Crimea's Gay Community Fears For Life Under Russia

[dlwickham]

Yelena, an openly gay teacher in Crimea who is raising four children with her partner, fears she could lose her family and her job now that her home has been taken over by Russia.

Since the Black Sea peninsula broke away from Ukraine and pledged allegiance to Moscow last month, the 38-year-old has been dreading the impact of tough Russian laws on her and her family, she says.

"There are serious concerns that children can be taken away, and there could be problems at work," Yelena told AFP in Crimea's main city of Simferopol, speaking on the condition that her last name not be published.

Russian President Vladimir Putin last year signed a law banning the dissemination of so-called "gay propaganda" to minors.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/09/crimea-gay-community-_n_5119452.html

[Behind the Aegis]

1. Now, now!

Be wary, or you may get inundated with how good the gays in Russia have it, even better than us in the US! Here is yet one more minority community who will be disrespected in multiple ways, including by those who use our rights as a pawn piece.

[Bluenorthwest]

4. I can tell you this, I'm sick of the open hostility on DU posing as some sort

of leftist stance. It's fucking insane and insulting, and it would not be allowed if these laws were against a racial or religious minority, but because it is LGBT, the defenders of Orthodoxy and Oligarchy are allowed to rant on....

[Behind the Aegis]

5. It is being allowed against a religious minority, Jews.

I agree it is very insulting, and indicates to me, many aren't as gay-positive as they claim to be. It started with the Olympics, and has become increasingly worse ever since, and almost always the same "players."

[msongs]

2. yeah but RT tells us Russia is a gay paradise with his holiness Putin doing good works for all nt

[William769]

3. We have only seen the tip of the iceberg of this story.

It's going to get much much worse.

[Behind the Aegis]

7. And yet, Russia passed it.

[Behind the Aegis]

12. And yet, Russia passed it.

[William769]

8. What is actual law and what is talked about are two different things.

Nice try to deflect from th whats actually happening, but as usual it didn't work.

[NuclearDem]

9. It was only a matter of time until a "But Ukraine!" post showed up.

[Behind the Aegis]

10. "Like the cleaning of a house...."

[dipsydoodle]

13. The comparison was valid

inasmuch if Crimea was not now part of Russia it would still be part of Ukraine.

[William769]

14. And would still not have such a law.

So how is the comparison valid?

[dipsydoodle]

19. see

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024804988

[joeybee12]

20. Um, do you understand the difference between not having pro-gay laws...

and specifically targeting gays with discriminatroy laws...Lord, the Putin love and apology is strong.

[Behind the Aegis]

15. No, it really wasn't.

When Crimea was a part of Ukraine, there was no anti-gay law like Russia. Now, Crimea is part of Russia which does support a nifty, hate-filled anti-gay law, which is spawning concern among gays in Crimea. Therefore, your remarks are red herrings.

[dlwickham]

17. don't say red herring

I think that would be considered anti-Communist or something

[AcertainLiz]

16. My Russian friend has tried to convince me that gays have it just fine in Russia.

What a joke...

[Behind the Aegis]

22. Which, like non-existant Ukrainian anti-gay laws, is not the topic.

[maddezmom]

24. Loud gay activist?

First it was angry., now loud...hmmmm.

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. So are the tatars

Russification is not just a nice word