From Russia with Hate

The above is an image of street art outside the Russian embassy in Sweden, protesting Russia's current policy of hate and oppression towards gay citizens. During this brouhaha, Canada's Parliament building was awash in lavender lighting. In Amsterdam, rainbow flags were on display for a visit of the Russian president Putin. The council of the city of Amsterdam decided to hang out the gay pride flag on all council-owned buildings and offices in protest of the human rights violation.

Still, the Olympics Committee so far refuses to move the venue of the Olympics in light of this debacle where mere support of equality for LGBT people in Russia is a severely punishable crime. High-profile and openly gay artists Harvey Fierstein, Tilda Swinton and George Takei have protested and promoted boycotting the Russian winter Olympics. Boycotts of Russian imports, especially vodka, continue throughout the world. Don't even consider a Faberge egg right now, dahlings!

As for US President Obama, he's cancelled a meeting with Putin scheduled for September on a number of issues including this human rights outrage. Obama told Jay Leno on The Tonight Show, “I have no patience for countries that try to treat gays or lesbians or transgender persons in ways that intimidate them or are harmful to them.... One of the things I think is very important for me to speak out on is making sure that people are treated fairly and justly because that’s what we stand for, and I believe that that’s a precept that’s not unique to America. That’s just something that should apply everywhere."

Still, the Russians are bearish on bigotry in this matter. Two days ago, in that country, Olympic poll-vaulting shill Yelena Isinbayeva said that equality for gay people was Russia's greatest problem. Really? Of all of that nation's socioeconomic issues, that is actually what Ms I considers the country's main concern?

Yelena got real a day later and said she was Miss Understood.

People, BOYCOTT THE RUSSIAN OLYMPICS!