SOC 202-01
Dr. Sills
Feb 17th 2011
An unfortunate ordeal in Russia has been given some hope; a gay rights activist blocked from holding a demonstration in Moscow has won a court case (in the European Court of Human Rights, not a Russian court), granting him damages and legal fees. Nikolai Alexeyev's efforts to hold protests for gay rights has earned him unwanted attention from Moscow authorities, who (he says) have intimidated him in an effort to get him to stop trying to assemble.
The official line is that a protest of this nature in Moscow would be too risky; it would incite a "violent reaction" in the public, many of whom have a deep-seated prejudice against homosexuality. This victory is a positive thing, but a minor one; Alexeyev and those who share his goals have yet to see any action from President Medvedev, who has been in office two years, nor Sergei Sobyanin, Moscow's new mayor (his predecessor called gay rights marches "satanic").
It's disheartening that the court victory was won outside Russia, but it makes perfect sense. When homophobia is institutionalized, a difficult-to-escape cycle is created.
1. The established government calls gay rights "satanic" or a "health risk."
2. The public takes the word of gov't official to heart.
3. The public overwhelmingly opposes gay rights.
4. The government follows the tide of the public; they overwhelmingly oppose gay rights.
It's a simplification, but there is a sad logic to this process.
1 comment:
I can see how sad this is. I believe everyone deserves to have equal rights no matter what your race, sexuality, etc. is. It is unfortunate that discrimination is still happening this modern times.
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