Russian President Vladimir Putin sent shockwaves through the western world when he announced that homosexual propaganda will not be welcome in the 22nd Winter Olympics being held in Sochi next month.
In a rare interview with BBC’s Andrew Marr, President Putin outlined his position. “We don’t have a ban on non-traditional sexual relations,” he said. “We have a ban on promoting homosexuality and paedophilia among minors.”
The Russian president added, “You can feel free in your relationships but leave children in peace.”
Putin’s comments echo a talk he gave in Finland (below) where he explained his concern about children being affected by homosexual propaganda. This concern found expression in a law last June prohibiting homosexual propaganda to children under 18.
Gay rights activists throughout the world have gone hysterical, calling for a boycott on the Olympic games and accusing Russia of persecuting homosexuals. Stephen Fry is among the growing host of celebrities joining together to condemn Russia.
While homosexuality was against the law during the era of the Soviet Union, it is completely legal in Russia today. What is illegal is the aggressive promotion of homosexual values. As President Vladimir Putin has said:
“I want everyone to understand that in Russia there are no infringements on sexual minorities’ rights. They’re people, just like everyone else, and they enjoy full rights and freedoms.”
Russia’s stance against homosexual propaganda is rooted in the country’s historic Christian heritage. Since the collapse of communion there has been a revival in the Russian Orthodox Church and a gradual resurgence (if fleeting and selective) of traditional Christian values.
This is not the first time that Vladimir Putin has alienated himself from the West because of his pro-Christian policies. (See our earlier articles ‘Vladimir Putin Warns America Not to Attack Syria‘ and ‘Russia is Hope of Persecuted Church‘.)
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Putin is quite right to retain Russia’s version of Section 28.
Having done battle with our Local Education Authority over its Zero Tolerance campaign, which statedly aims to reduce homophobic bullying in schools, all I can say is that England’s old Section 28 was probably the best protection homosexuals had against being bullied as it meant the vast majority of children were unaware of homosexuality.
As I have pointed out to the headteachers of my children’s schools, Christian children are brought up to treat everyone with respect anyway. Meanwhile, the children who misuse the word ‘gay’ are probably unaware of any moral and religious reasons for disapproving of homosexuality and are expressing an innate revulsion to this behaviour. The ZT campaign therefore is not so much about stopping bullying; it is rather about squashing the children’s inherent repulsion and normalising the concept of same-sex relationships from the earliest age.
Comparing my own childhood with what my children experience at school, I have observed that the more schools preach about ‘respecting difference’, the less tolerance there actually is. As children in the ’70’s, we all recognised that we were unique – without anybody telling us so – but we respected the fact that our homelives defined who we were.
Nowadays, the children are actually taught that their friends are more important to them than their parents – I know this because I request copies of the PSHE curriculum on a regular basis. They are also taught that neither moral nor immoral absolutes are desirable but that they need to find their own comfortable place on the ‘grey line in between’. No teacher has been able to define immoral absolutes for me and they just shrug when I say that wherever we find ourselves on the grey line we are then judging those to either side of us…so unless we hold to the ‘gold standard ‘ of moral absolutes (aka the Ten Commandments) the only outcome will be the immoral absolutes (aka absolute licentiousness) which they are so keen to avoid! I think some of them agree with me but it’s more than their jobs are worth – to them – to say so.
Despite all their talk about ‘working with parents’ and the ‘home-school partnership’, schools are being used as a vehicle to reduce parents to mere puppets rather than the ultimate upbringers of their children, and the fact that schools are all proud to publicise their working relationship with Stonewall means that this minority group is having a great influence on the curriculum; I could narrate several incidents, and those would be only the ones I know about……
No confusion. Children need time to grow sexually, have first emotions and first love. This normal growth of sexuality should not be affected in any way. This is the prime idea of the law. Very simple. Just the right of child to grow on its’own in consistency with his mind and body. Everything else is speculation of those who see rights of children to be independent as a problem. Who and why lies about this law? Very interesting question by the well.
Poor old Putin! Perhaps he should have stuck to imprisoning people for no good reason. Nobody seemed to mind that.
I think you mean collapse of communism, not collapse of communion.
How does Neil know homosexuals are not interested in children? Putin’s message has great clarity, it is us the west that are confused, deluded and in decay, whereas from what I see in these foundational moves from Putin, is a nation in the ascent, a bit like Canada. Why next they may be standing with Israel, yes I know this is a bit beyond the pale.
I don’t think Russia is a bit like Canada. If they had a long land frontier (as they used to !) it would still be heavily guarded.
From the age of 5years in Britain children at school are given books showing two mummies, two daddies !!! This continues throughout their school years. They are told they cannot say it is wrong until they “try” it. In other words our children, if we allow it, are being groomed to accept that which is perverted and totally contrary to the Word of the Most High God. The term GAY is used to disguise what it is. It is not GAY it is Homosexual.
I admire Putin for standing up and saying what he did in regards to leaving the children in peace. Sadly it shames this so called Christian nation that we did not stand before the world and say the same thing. That we did not lock the doors of the churches and say no we WILL NOT allow Homosexual Marriage.
Sin is sin. Do I hate homosexuals ? Absolutely not, but if I refuse to tell them they are in need of Salvation then I deny the Saviour of the World and I have not His love in my heart.
What the laws does is prevent them from hearing the Gospel, and we all need to hear it we are all sinners.
In regards to Peadophilia ……… There a lot of men out there who would tell you that you are very much mistaken if you think it is wrong to put Homosexuality and Paedophilia together !!!!! Take the blinkers off.
By the way.Well said Busy Mum!!
Let me say again. I read this law. There is no restrictions on LGBT rights there. Even in case of propaganda of homosexuality for children – the case will be for anybody even if he has traditional orientation. “Leave the child in peace” – good formulation. I wonder why media talk about problems that this law gives to the LGBT rights?? This is simply not true.
Personally I know several LGBT people living in Moscow – nothing changed, they live as they like. Two lesbian girls live as family, they adopted son from orphanage. Nothing changed. What problems with rights of real LGBT people in Russia do you see? Outside politics – in real life there are no significant problems actually.
Media, don’t make politics on LGBT, leave they in peace. Unfortunately, somebody tries to take points on this.
Thanks Kathleen – it’s good to know there are other parents who are trying to keep tabs on what schools are doing! We haven’t yet had a problem at primary level (as far as I’m aware!) but secondary schools, among other things, seem to be holding assemblies about people like Alan Turing……there are a lot of people who have done great things for this country but we don’t focus on Horatio Nelson’s adultery, for example, do we? Christianity is the one great equaliser as it recognises we are all sinners …anathema to socialists who think we are all inherently good!
Schools are definitely working on the assumption that nobody believes homosexual behaviour to be wrong any more. When challenged, one headteacher defended his decision not to notify parents of the forthcoming ZT campaign as he told us he didn’t consider it to be a controversial topic! So most parents are utterly unaware of what is happening……if you don’t ask, you will never be told…….