RUSSIA’S president, Vladimir
V. Putin, has declared war on homosexuals. So far, the world has
mostly been silent.
On July 3, Mr. Putin
signed a law banning the adoption of Russian-born children not only to gay
couples but also to any couple or single parent living in any country where
marriage equality exists in any form.
A few days earlier, just
six months before Russia hosts the 2014 Winter Games, Mr. Putin signed a law allowing
police officers to arrest tourists and foreign nationals they suspect of being
homosexual, lesbian or “pro-gay” and detain them for up to 14 days. Contrary to what the
International Olympic Committee says, the law could mean that any
Olympic athlete, trainer, reporter, family member or fan who is gay — or
suspected of being gay, or just accused of being gay — can go to jail.
Earlier in June, Mr.
Putin signed yet another antigay bill, classifying “homosexual propaganda” as
pornography. The law is broad and vague, so that any teacher who tells students
that homosexuality is not evil, any parents who tell their child that
homosexuality is normal, or anyone who makes pro-gay statements deemed
accessible to someone underage is now subject to arrest and fines. Even a
judge, lawyer or lawmaker cannot publicly argue for tolerance without the
threat of punishment.
Finally, it is rumored
that Mr. Putin is about to sign an edict that would remove children from their
own families if the parents are either gay or lesbian or suspected of being gay
or lesbian. The police would have the authority to remove children from
adoptive homes as well as from their own biological parents.
Not surprisingly, some
gay and lesbian families are already beginning to plan their escapes from
Russia.
Why is Mr. Putin so
determined to criminalize homosexuality? He has defended his actions by saying
that the Russian birthrate is diminishing and that Russian families as a whole
are in danger of decline. That may be. But if that is truly his concern, he
should be embracing gay and lesbian couples who, in my world, are breeding like
proverbial bunnies. These days I rarely meet a gay couple who aren’t raising
children.
And if Mr. Putin thinks
he is protecting heterosexual marriage by denying us the same unions, he hasn’t
kept up with the research. Studies from San Diego State University compared
homosexual civil unions and heterosexual marriages in Vermont and found that
the same-sex relationships demonstrate higher levels of satisfaction, sexual
fulfillment and happiness. (Vermont legalized same-sex marriages in 2009, after the
study was completed.)
Mr. Putin also says that
his adoption ban was enacted to protect children from pedophiles. Once again
the research does not support the homophobic rhetoric. About 90
percent of pedophiles are heterosexual men.
Mr. Putin’s true motives
lie elsewhere. Historically this kind of scapegoating is used by politicians to
solidify their bases and draw attention away from their failing policies, and
no doubt this is what’s happening in Russia. Counting on the natural backlash
against the success of marriage equality around the world and recruiting
support from conservative religious organizations, Mr. Putin has sallied forth
into this battle, figuring that the only opposition he will face will come from
the left, his favorite boogeyman.
Mr. Putin’s campaign
against lesbian, gay and bisexual people is one of distraction, a strategy of
demonizing a minority for political gain taken straight from the Nazi playbook.
Can we allow this war against human rights to go unanswered? Although Mr. Putin
may think he can control his creation, history proves he cannot: his
condemnations are permission to commit violence against gays and lesbians. Last
week a young gay man was murdered in the city of Volgograd. He was beaten, his
body violated with beer bottles, his clothing set on fire, his head crushed
with a rock. This is most likely just the beginning.
Nevertheless, the rest
of the world remains almost completely ignorant of Mr. Putin’s agenda. His
adoption restrictions have received some attention, but it has been largely
limited to people involved in international adoptions.
This must change. With Russia about to hold the Winter Games in
Sochi, the country is open to pressure. American and world leaders
must speak out against Mr. Putin’s attacks and the violence they foster. The
Olympic Committee must demand the retraction of these laws under threat of
boycott.
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