Call the Presses: Putin doesn’t hate gay people!

Given the way most American media outlets cover President Putin, one would hardly be surprised if he was some kind of sociopath who delighted in drinking the blood of his own people. Three recent developments have only added to the disparity between how U.S. newspapers and mainstream news shows portray the Russian head of state, and what his policies actually are. These are the Russian government’s refusal to permit a U.S. military strike on the Syrian regime, Putin’s direct appeal in The New York Times to the American people on Syria, and his support for the Russian Federal Assembly (Parliament)’s unanimous passage of a law which prohibits the distribution of materials promoting “nontraditional sexual relationships among minors”.

In the wake of these events, many U.S. and British politicians, newspapers and show hosts have changed their attitude to Putin from one of overt criticism to hysterical condemnation. I will not attempt to draw attention to all the comments from American and British politicians, celebrity activists, news reporters, comedians, and prominent late-night television hosts. Suffice it to say that these sentiments reflect a visceral hatred for Putin common among U.S. and British elites. One of the more disturbing trends is the ease with which prominent Britons and Americans have compared Putin to one of history’s most infamous, mass-murdering tyrants. From Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) to British comedian Stephen Fry,  comparisons to Hitler have abounded.

Yet what does the man himself have to say on the matter? Speaking with Interfax reporters on September 20, Putin disputed Western allegations that Russia has passed a law encroaching on the rights of sexual minorities. Citing that the vast majority of the Russian people had already made up their minds against same-sex marriage, Putin contended that this did not equate to oppression of gay Russians based on their orientation:

“We have no oppression based on gender. There are no laws in Russia that punish sexual minorities for their orientation. There is nothing to worry about there.”

Reiterating that the law itself was narrow in scope, Putin noted simply that “We have adopted a law prohibiting the propaganda [of homosexuality] among minors”. Explaining the law in the context of longstanding Russian and European demographic problems, Putin asserted that Russia reserved the right to determine its future without necessarily following the same paths taken by Western Europe and the United States:

“Europeans are dying out. Don’t you understand that? And same-sex marriages don’t produce children. Do you want to survive by drawing migrants? But society cannot adapt so many migrants. Your choice in many countries is the way it is: recognition of same-sex marriage, adoption, etc. But let us make our own choice the way we see it for our country.”

Citing the reality that some U.S. states still retain criminal penalties for homosexual activity, Putin alleged a double standard, asking “Why does everyone like to focus on Russia? You shouldn’t fuel tensions here”.

Putin contended that “the rights of representatives of sexual minorities are not restricted in Russia in any way.” Citing broad public agreement against criminalizing same-sex behavior (which Russia decriminalized only after the collapse of the Soviet Union), he also pointed out that he knows many gay or lesbian Russians who contribute actively to Russian cultural life. He made a point of emphasizing that he has awarded civic awards to Russians who happen to be gay or lesbian.

“We have no laws restricting them in anything, in the workplace or in any spheres of activity. I communicate with these people, I even give them state awards if they have earned them by their work,” the president said.

One might vehemently disagree with Putin’s stance on same-sex marriage, or believe that the majority of Russians are wrong not to support that, or even civil unions. One might decry Putin’s support for the Federal Assembly’s unanimous vote to prohibit the “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations among minors”. One is free to view this law as a screen which may serve to permit an atmosphere of essentially unchecked persecution of gays in Russia. Yet surely a man who despises gay people would do all he could to avoid honoring them with civic awards? If Putin is truly to be compared with someone as horrific as Hitler, surely people remember that Hitler refused to congratulate black U.S. athlete Jesse Owens at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. Far from such absurd behavior, Putin has awarded medals to his own gay citizens without any qualms.

Irrespective of whether or not you agree with the stated intentions of the law or not, Al-Jazeera America reports that the International Olympic Committee just ruled today that it does not violate the Olympic Charter, and so Russia will host the 2014 Winter Olympic Games at Sochi as planned. The article notes that

The International Olympic Committee has dismissed concerns over Russia’s law banning gay “propaganda,” saying it doesn’t violate the Olympic Charter’s anti-discrimination clause, and pronounced Russia ready to host the 2014 Winter Games.

Jean-Claude Killy, chairman of the IOC Coordination Commission, gave his stamp of approval during a news conference Thursday at the conclusion of the commission’s 10th and final visit to Sochi before the games, which begin on Feb. 7.