With genocide, stage 5 of 8 has been reached. Only three remain.

[Pab Sungenis]

Stage 1: Classification.

Russia Anti-Gay Bill: Russia Passes Radical Family Values Bill While President Announces Divorce On TV

Stage 2: Symbolization.

Russian Gays Forced To Drink Urine And Beaten As Part Of “Cure” By Nationalist Thugs

Stage 3: Dehumanization

Dmitri Kisilev, Russian Official, Degrades Gays On National Television

Stage 4: Organization

Russian vigilantes are videoing the kidnapping, beating and torture of young gays

Stage 5: Polarization

Russian lawmaker: Gay activists must die for 'extremism'

All that is left are:

Stage 6: Preparation.
Stage 7: Extermination.

Only 6 and 7 remain, because a healthy chunk of people, or at least posters here on DU, are already at Stage 8: Denial.

It's not too late to stop this.

[msongs]

1. read a detailed explanation of each of these 8 steps here ->

http://www.genocidewatch.org/genocide/8stagesofgenocide.html

[cali]

2. That's all vile, vile stuff and dangerous. It is not necessarily a precursor to genocide

There are countries where the potential for genocide of GLBT folks is considerable: Uganda and Nigeria, for instance.

There are 79 countries in which homosexuality itself is criminal and punishable by imprisonment. Almost half of those countries are in Africa. There are 7 countries where homosexuality is punishable by death. Yes, Russia is headed in a scary direction but homosexuality is not criminal in Russia.

Russia provides an opportunity to call out ALL those countries where homosexuality is either criminalized or where its dangerous to be gay- such as Jamaica which is infamous for the violence against gay people.

I realize that Russia is hosting the Olympics in 2014 and I support a boycott though it's my understanding that GLBT athletes do not feel that way.

We need to shine the spotlight on the bigotry and hate that exists and is growing against GLBT populations.

There is not a genocide going on in Russia against its GLBT population. There is oppression and violence and terrible intolerance. Heinous as those are, they aren't genocide.

That's not denial. That's fact. And not the U.N. or a single human rights organization calls what's going on in Russia, genocide.

[Pab Sungenis]

3. Referring to concerns over what is going on

as a "revolting little political game" IS denial.

We have leverage to stop this in Russia before it gets further. But denial and minimalization just plays into the hands of the perpetrators.

[cali]

5. people have been criticizing Russia's homophobia and tying it to Snowden

and yes that is a revolting little political game.

Accusing people of abetting Russian oppression because they think it's unlikely that the oppression in Russia will lead to genocide is also revolting.

Yes, we should use leverage against Russia but we damn well should use it in countries where it is worse. Or do you only care about Russia? If so, why? Why do you ignore and minimize what's going on in other countries. There's been a real surge of anti-gay laws over the past few years in more than a few countries.

[Pab Sungenis]

7. This has nothing to do with Snowden.

At all.

[KoKo]

9. And using "Genocide" is really OTT. It's about Snowden, agree.

Accusing a country of GLBT Genocide is hardly a way to get them to move forward in their thinking about increased rights for GLBT citizens.

[Sissyk]

10. This is not about Snowden!

If you'd been paying attention, you'd know it is about our GBLt brothers and sisters going to the games. The majority of the post on this subject never even mention Snowden.

Why can't some of you separate the two?

[dipsydoodle]

11. It is actually

The focus already being on Russia due to those circumstances attributed to the media focusing on Russia federalising a law already in place across some parts of Russia.

[Posteritatis]

13. This may sound weird, but not everything in the rest of the world is about the United States. (nt)

[JoeyT]

14. Genocide isn't what it's at yet.

It's potentially heading that way, though. They've already passed the stage where authorities turn a blind eye to crimes against LGBT people, and even encouraging them in a way. The only step left is for authorities to take an active hand in it.

I'm totally pro-Snowden, but this is a completely separate issue, and needs to be opposed as strongly as possible.

[ZombieHorde]

4. Disturbing. nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. It can, but it will require the kind of international

Pressure I doubt it will be put on.

Hell. I expect our extreme right (see Buchanan and even Corey Booker) to applaud this.

It sickens me...to the core

[William769]

8. Thats the road the Russians seem to be taking.

And just like before, no one wants to hear about it.

[RZM]

12. I disagree. I actually think we're seeing the crest of the anti-LGBT wave in Russia

Not that 5 years from now things will necessarily be great there. But the louder the international criticism, the more they will have to take notice.

Russia isn't some isolated backwater like North Korea. It's a major player. They can't get away with this without consequences forever. I think that many years from now, this period will be seen as a turning point for Russia's LGBT community.