Dutch group arrested for "gay propaganda" in Russia.

[Askold]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/22/dutch-tourists-jailed-russia-gay_n_3635803.html

A while ago, Russia made some law against what they call "homosexual propaganda." Now we have the first foreign victims of the law as a Dutch group that was holding a seminar with Russian LGBT group has been arrested.

The police were reportedly looking for minors at the meeting, according to Gazeta, but found none. They did, however, discover a 17-year-old in the film footage. The teen had told the crew he was 18 years old at the time of his interview, according to the report. Police were able to keep the Dutch tourists under the "homosexual propaganda" law.

The anti-gay legislation, which was signed into law by Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 30, stigmatizes gay people and bans anyone from giving children information on homosexuality. Earlier this month, it was announced tourists would be subjected to the same fines and sentences as residents if found in violation of the "gay propaganda" law. Foreigners can be jailed up to 14 days.

So, not only is the law incredicly stupid and discriminatory, the group had been acting in good faith and it was the 17-year olds lie that caused them to break the law. Although I'm now curious as to how did the police know that the kid in some random video isn't 18?  Was he a plant or were they so desperate to find any evidence to arrest LGBT people that they tracked down everyone on the videos who looked young?

[mythbuster43]

Apparently, Russia has its own Taliban.

[Sylvana]

Apparently, Russia has its own Taliban.

Now that's not fair, the Taliban are a fringe group of bigoted radicals. In Russia the bigoted radicals are the majority and government leaders.
The homosexual propaganda law is crazy and seems to be enforced more strictly than most other laws. In short, if they could get away with a Uganda style law, they would probably have done that.

[Art Vandelay]

Apparently, Russia has its own Taliban.

Now that's not fair, the Taliban are a fringe group of bigoted radicals. In Russia the bigoted radicals are the majority and government leaders.
The homosexual propaganda law is crazy and seems to be enforced more strictly than most other laws. In short, if they could get away with a Uganda style law, they would probably have done that.

The Taliban are also the majority and government leaders in the tribal regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

[rageaholic]

I thought Russia was non religious.  What reason would seculars have to be anti gay? 

[dpareja]

I thought Russia was non religious.  What reason would seculars have to be anti gay?

Ew, gay, icky, ew!

[ThunderWulf]

Heard about this last night.  What the hell Russia?  Arresting people for petty bullshit because they're afraid of homosexuality. And on top of that, pretty much every march for equal rights there lately has ended with violence started by the anti-gay crowd.

[RavynousHunter]

You'd think Putin would've learned from the Czarists and the Bolshevik Revolution that doing this kind of shit...generally pisses people the hell off.  If Putin doesn't get the stick out of his ass, Russia will probably see another revolt in my lifetime.

[kefkaownsall]

I thought Russia was non religious.  What reason would seculars have to be anti gay?

Actually the orthodox church gained power

[mellenORL]

I thought Russia was non religious.  What reason would seculars have to be anti gay?

Actually the orthodox church gained power

Very much that, also a long standing cultural tradition of uber macho-ism, plus during the communist era, homosexuality was deemed to be a decadent elitist counter-revolutionary indulgence that had to be purged from society.

[Askold]

I thought Russia was non religious.  What reason would seculars have to be anti gay?

Actually the orthodox church gained power

From what I know the communists in USSR weren't as tough on religion as other communist regimes. (Like China for example.)

And another thing that's been on the rise in Russia are nationalistic movements like Neo-Nazis. Those usually consider homophobia to be part of their ideology.

[Lithp]

I thought Russia was non religious.  What reason would seculars have to be anti gay?

No group has a monopoly on being douchebags.

[Askold]

I thought Russia was non religious.  What reason would seculars have to be anti gay?

No group has a monopoly on being douchebags.

Quoted for truth.

[Dakota Bob]

Russia is one peculiar place.

[Sigmaleph]

I thought Russia was non religious.  What reason would seculars have to be anti gay?

No group has a monopoly on being douchebags.

Except, of course, for douchebags.