Gay Pride Banned in Moscow

Nazis are like a festering disease, a blight on humanity.

This makes sense to me. I wouldn't expect anything less from a country that capitalizes on suppressing what we in the States would consider basic rights. I'm glad that we're hearing about this, good to be aware of what we don't have, good to appreciate.what we do.

If the parades have happened before why stop them now ? Let the homosexuals do what the will, their not hurting anyone

Not that I'm taking the side of the Mayor of Moscow....but because so many people their do opose gay people it really is a safety isue for them. It's definitly sad that these people are not alowed to celebrate their love openly but for their own safety I think they should use a diferent tactic to help Moscow better understand and respect gay, lesbian, and bi-sexual people.

I'm sick and tired of Gays' insisting on some sort of 'hallowed' rights, simply because they are gay!
Not all societies are opened armed to Gays...and it isnt because such societies are primitive. When people tell societies that abhor gays that they are indeed being restrictive, even after years of such societies existing without such for millenia, then it is more or less one society trying to enforce its values on another.

If Americans see it fit to have gay rights...then they should have gay rights! If russians choose not to have them...we should also respect them. Just the same way that hunting is banned in some countries and thrive in others...different societies make their own rules for themselves.

I dont see the reason why I should feel confident with people who mostly support killing of children (pro-choice) and the releasing of murderers! (anti death penalty!)

mwniki, are you saying that the nine countries that have a death penalty for homosexuality aren't primative. I do happen to think that hate is a somewhat primative emotion, especial since the government is on the same side as the Nazis. Also, this article has nothing to do with abortion or death penalty, so it doesn't help your arguement. I see little difference between restricting gay rights and restricting religious freedom.

Mwaniki. Obviously you have never studied Anthropology. The concept of homosexuality has been around longer than borders really existed between countries. To say homosexuality came after the laws against it were made, is a ridiculous accusation. In Greece, love between two men was considered the realest love. In old tribes from Africa love between two men or a man and a boy were considered a way to bond the community and show support for the younger generations. But obviously you wouldn't know. You are protected from these truths by your shield of ignorance. And if you get anything from reading this, i hope it is that you should read a book once in a while.

PurpleCrayon

Thanks for highlighting my choice of Armor...'shield of ignorance' and all. It was quite enthralling to hear it described so...

I will have to agree with you on one point...I have never studied Anthropology. However, having grown up in Africa, I can tell you one thing, Ignorance is not one thing you can lightly accuse me of.

If there is anything I learnt when I moved to the states, it was that people in this country are quite ignorant. (sorry to digress here...but a serious accusation was made...about ignorance). The Average Elementary school child in Africa has to learn and be examined in about 14 different subjects, none of this being optionals. Failure is taken very seriously, and most Kids begin going to school as early as 4:30 a.m in the morning, and by 6:30, most schools are full house, only to be released at 5.

Schools also organise for compulsory holiday classes for these Kids...so Kids have 2 holiday breaks for just about two weeks average with the long holiday that lasts a month coming in december. Amidst all that, failure is looked at very badly by parents...and failure is not determined on what grade someone gets...but what position they are. So even if a student's mean grade was A- but was 5th from last in his class, his parents would berate him for failure! why couldn't you be the top? would be the cry! Students thus bury themselves into their books, and the fact is, that because of limited spaces in higher Education institutions, and lack of funding by most to pursue education abroad...many students who pass exceptionally well, will not get into tertiary institutions, because only the best of the best get called in.

So i can assure you, when you come to an American System of Education, most Africans will find it pretty easy going...unfortunately, many of my brothers and sisters get caught up by the bright lights and development, and forget why they really came. But one thing is certain...they arent ignorant. Most are much much much more well read than their colleagues in University, that it gives us a chuckle when we are accused of something like this.

Back to the topic.

First of all, you should know, that in African society, friendship between men was on the basis of 'Mentorship'. Instances of Gays were almost unheard of. In communities where they came up, perpetrators would be impaled, stakes or stuffed into a drum full of bees and rolled down a hillside to their deaths. Pretty brutal. Most of the gay practices came in with Arab Slavers who ventured inland. A fact most elementary students will acknowledge. Even such basic actions like 'kissing' were not indegenous to African Society. And talking about a man and a boy, boys esp want allowed and mostly didnt have time to get sexual until puberty. From the age of 13-15, they would be inducted. Talks and even experiments. Some communities even had practices where they allowed boys and girls to spend nights together and explore their sexuality as long as there was no sex...they would check the girls before and after the nights..to see they were intact. this helped abate keep appetities on both sides down, as well as forge strong bonds between potential partners. (oh! and rape at such meetings could be fatal for the guilty party..so restraint was practised)

The fact that African countries are still very opposed to the notion of Gay rights is thus pretty much because it is a very alien notion to them, and as much a monstrosity as they can imagine. Open Kissing even between couples is still something the average african would still cringe at...as most see it as an act better done behind closed doors.

I know all about the greeks and the fact that they had open gay relations. And that most greeks whilst married and with kids also had gay partners. But who is to say that the greeks were right and the Jews, Indians and Africans were wrong?! Dont call others ignorant because they have different view points. Cause when you call someone ignorant, you call for examination of oneself. I probably had read more books than you have read to date by the time I was 13! The size of my library at the moment is quite vast, i've read 90% of the books in it and i'm at least a couple of years away from 30!

And after all that I still insist...when you choose a certain way of life...it is not upon you to insist that others move around to accomodate you...you should be willing to take the pros and cons of that way of life. It gets kinda tiring after a while to hear people whining when...in my opinon...they are probably getting a much better deal than other fellows around the planet.

Homophobia is very similar to racism. Just because there is a long tradition of racism one can not argue that racism is good, or culturally moral. The same is true of homophobia. Sure regions of the world have lengthy complicated traditions with homophobia. Mwaniki mentioned examples in Africa where gays were stuffed in barrels with bees and rolled down a hill. Just because there are cultural roots, religious or otherwise, that argue for homophobic agendas, it does not justify a morally acceptable argument against gay rights. Gay rights are human rights. All humans have a right to a violence free life without qualifications.