The signs, the protests, the “debates”—I can’t believe this is still a discussion.
How is it that we are still arguing over who another person can love and marry, and how those people can express their love?
How can it be that people believe they hold the ability to tell someone they can not stand before the love of their life to exchange wedding vows, simply because they love the same gender?
What I find even more erroneous than that is how a ruler can forbid displays of love.
Yes, I’m talking about the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, who is perfectly okay with banning gay-rights activity.
AP Photo:
President of Russia Vladimir Putin talks to Olympic volunteers in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia. In July, 2013, Putin signed a law banning pro-gay propaganda.
According to an ABC News report, the law was signed into affect by Putin in July 2013 and, “bans pro-gay ‘propaganda’ that could be accessible to minors—a measure viewed by activists as forbidding almost any public expression of gay-rights sentiment. The law cleared parliament virtually unopposed and has extensive public support in Russia.”
I enjoy intelligent conversations about complex beliefs, and not many conversations lead me to feel uncomfortable.
When people deliberate over if being gay is “a choice,” someone’s upbringing, or science, I do enjoy putting my two sense in [I believe it’s simply how someone is born]—until I realize the real root of the whole problem with these conversations is that they even exist.
The real question here is, “who cares?” It’s not my life to live, it’s not my sexual orientation and it’s not my wedding.
To some, however, this type of relationship was once such a terrible fate (I say this with sarcasm) that someone could be incarcerated for it.
According to a CBS News report, homosexuality was no longer considered a crime in Russia starting in 1993. That’s correct—a crime.
Also to my absolute worry and fury, Russia might forbid citizens of foreign countries with approved same-sex marriages, “from adopting Russian children,” also according to a CBS News report.
Already in affect is the new law which will fine people for “LGBT propaganda at 4,000 to 5,000 rubles [$120 to $150]…and up to 800,000 to 1 million rubles for non-governmental organization’s, corporations or other legal entities [$24,000 to $30,000,]” according to globalequality.org.
Also on the site, a line reads that “foreigners are also subject to 15 days of prison and deportation from Russia.”
So, what does this mean if an athlete wins Olympic gold and wants to kiss their significant other, they aren’t allowed to?
Does it mean they could be put behind bars?
These people can’t show affection during what could very likely be the proudest moment of their lives, or even, their saddest?
I remain dumbfounded by politicians and people alike who make efforts to stop gay marriages and displays of affection from happening.
I can’t believe it’s the year 2014, and this is still something officials argue over.
It is pathetic, infuriating and the biggest waste of time and breath.
Protesting for equality will never be any of those things—but the fact that people must protest in hopes of a change, however, is.
It’s so disappointing that we still live in a world where athletes at the Olympic Winter Games need to not only worry about the biggest competition of their lives, but their behavior should they love someone the Russian government does not approve of.
I am certainly not excusing the United States and the many states within our own country that still have not passed bills that will allow for legalized same-sex marriages.
It does seem that the U.S. is moving forward, as 17 states have passed these bills—but we need to do better.
Russia needs to do better.
The world needs to do better—and this “better” I speak of is long, long overdue.
Brittany Ballantyne can be contacted at bballantyne@keene-equinox.com