A4A : Our Poor Russian Comrades.
Canada is a great country, yes we have our fair share of oppression. But nothing like what’s happening to our comrades in Russia. We are a diverse peoples. Who welcome cultures from around the world. Who celebrate the sexuality and individuality of all of our people.
As a Gay man with Aspergers, my gayness has never been a problem here. I have a committed relationship of which I can freely travel to our local gay neighbourhood, if I so choose to do those things. I can hold his hand. I can kiss him and I can even go to our city hall and have our homophobic mayor marry us. We have these simple choices.
The Russian government recently have imposed a law that prevents any of these things from happening. I’m sure your all aware of the drama unfolding. Although the law does not say we can not be gay, it does send a message to Russian citizens that Gay people are bad. Abuse has ensued. Russians would argue the law protects the children.
Over the past few weeks I have noticed an upsurge in the number of Russian nationals that have been sending me messages here on Adam4Adam.com it’s means things are not good. AlI can say is WELCOME TO CANADA.
In a recent article in our national news paper it was written, “Canada accepts gay asylum-seekers in the same way as it accepts members of any other persecuted group, like a religious or ethnic minority. Asylum-seekers can file a claim after they arrive in Canada because they face persecution by their government, or because they are persecuted by others and the government does not offer protection.”
It was announced that Canada would favour sexual refugees. That also includes Jamaica, Haiti, Iran, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Uganda, Malaysia, Zimbabwe, Morocco, Lebanon, Iraq.
This link will support persecuted people’s quest to come to Canada to seek asylum.
Brandon
Go Canada!
The link is dead right now (1200 CST 15AUG13). I am a US citizen and wish that my country would do the right thing like our neighbor to the north.
I just want to lend my support for the lgbt russian community. What Puton has done is give the skinheads the go ahead to terrorize gay people openly. We as Americans know a little about this tragedy, There have been many thoughts as to what we can do to get the world to know what’s going on in Russia. With the upcoming Winter Oylimpics almost here, would a boycott send a message? How about all nations wave rainbow flags in solidarity? The message will be sent loud and clear.
As an american, I was proud of my countries tradition of welcoming persecuted refugees from around the world who sought freedom. I’m also proud of our neighbors up north who are carrying that proud tradition forward when we here in the states have apparently dropped the ball. As aI nation we should re-evaluate our priorities and return to the principles which built our nation.
The link is broken. The following are the correct working links:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/refugees/outside/
http://rainbowrefugee.ca/SeekingProtection
“Russians would argue the law protects the children.”
We all know that statement is a load of BS. Prior to these anti-gay laws coming to pass are we to believe Russian children were being molested in droves by gay men/women? I think not. Because we all know most child molesters are straight.
And while the Russian officials are busy enacting laws designed to “protect” the little ones, what about gays? Where are the laws to protect them? Or do they not count? If they don’t, then gays shouldn’t pay taxes, etc. Why pay into a system that does not even recognize you as a group?
Accepting gay asylum seekers is an honorable cause. Question though: how do you prove they’re gay and not just fronting to get asylum?
I would love to host a hot russian brother
That’s all well and good, but why should gay Russians have to leave their country because of some narrow-minded propagandists who are preying on the uninformed? FIGHT BACK.
It would be most interesting if the athletes from Russia, Jamaica, Haiti, Iran, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Uganda, Malaysia, Zimbabwe, Morocco, Lebanon, and Iraq all went to Canada and sought asylum, then represented Canada in the upcoming Olympics as Canadians and crushed as the 2014 Canadian Olympic team. That could be an interesting turn of events.
I must quote your statement…. “It was announced that Canada would favour sexual refugees. That also includes Jamaica, Haiti, Iran, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Uganda, Malaysia, Zimbabwe, Morocco, Lebanon, Iraq.”
I don’t believe you meant to write it this way. It seems to say to me that these other countries accept refugees. I think you meant to say Canada will accept sexual refugees from all of the countries listed above in your statement.
Thanks for letting us know about Canada. You all rock up there.
Mike in the USA.
I majored in International Studies – Russia/Slavic Area with a focus in Russian History and Political Science. While I have to say that I am deeply saddened by the anti-LGBT laws that Mr. Putin and the Kremlin have passed, I’m not entirely surprised by this move. In recent months and years, there has been a severe crackdown on the freedoms of citizens of the Russian Federation. There is no tolerance whatsoever for any dissent in Russia, much less the right to free speech.
@ AJ – This having been said, it is extremely dangerous for Russians to even speak out, much less fight for LGBT rights. Anyone that stands up for anything that goes against the status quo WILL end up in prison for many years.
Putin is former KGB. The KGB could not be trusted nor could Russia be with Putin in charge. If you think Russia is a democracy you are sadly mistaken. It is still a sleeping bear run by hardline communists.
@ armywolfboy
“@ AJ – This having been said, it is extremely dangerous for Russians to even speak out, much less fight for LGBT rights. Anyone that stands up for anything that goes against the status quo WILL end up in prison for many years.”
Duh! had the American colonists not stood up to and fought the English there would be no America today. Gays need to quit wimping out, whining and waiting for someone else to protest or do something for them. If the cause is truly worth it then it’s worth fighting, sometimes even dying for. If those Russian gays refuse to stand up and fight for themselves, no matter what it takes; then they deserve to remain just the way they are, no matter how unfair it looks to me.
Just returned from 12 days in Moscow. Gay rights seemed to be a daily topic in the English newspaper the Moscow Times. Found it interesting that A4A was completely blocked each time I tried to long on. Whenever I tried to enter the website address to the browser line, it just went nowhere, eventually resulting in a “site not found” message.
Had to chuckle at BryBry’s comment…Jamaica, Haiti, Iran, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Uganda, Malaysia, Zimbabwe, Morocco, Lebanon, Iraq are not exactly known as winter Olympic powerhouses.
Armywolfboy: I’m surprised you as a guy man can honestly tell AJ that Russian gays should just “roll over and play dead.” If nothing is done then they are GUARANTEED no change whatsoever will ever take place. Imagine if the Abolitionists, along with slaves, etc., had just sat back and did nothing. Americans would probably still own slaves today. And given the rise in racism in the US of late it would not seem too far fetched a thought.
Any persecuted group will tell you you don’t get results by sitting back and doing nothing even if your life is at risk. Whether it’s dangerous or not, they have to fight for a better tomorrow if they want to effect change. Fighting can be something as simple as the Russian women runners’ kiss at the Moscow competition. Do you honestly think those women will be thrown in jail for that act after having won those medals for Russia? It will be interesting to see how government officials/the Kremlin deals with them.