Russia riot police break up gay protest

lisa micallef-grimaud

Jun 3rd 2009, 00:37

I must say, most Russians I've met hate gay people and activists with a passion. Russia is strictly a homophobic country. And here we have it , proof of this - they respect the number one cheesiest song contest in the world more than they do their own protestors and gay community! Shame shame shame on Russia and its authorities. By the way...to all those who seem to be confusing the word 'protest' with 'parade', they are two separate entities. A protest is a form of revolution, with the intention of bringing about social change. A parade is a festival in which one might 'flaunt' behaviour and/or lifestyle. The article heading clearly states this was a protest/ demonstration. Why ever should people not have a right to freedom of speech in Russia? Because it is a predominantly Orthodox country and people don't like men who like men, and women who like women? Again, shame , shame, shame on Russia and its authorities.

Stephen Borg Cardona

May 17th 2009, 01:21

I suppose that expecting the Russian Authorities to be civilized was foolish, after all look at what they did in Georgia.

Alex Ellul

May 17th 2009, 01:00

@Franco Farrugia: Re your comment: "You probably do not see the plight of 'minorities' faced even in our own country.".. Can you give us some examples of these minorities and their plight?

Also your comment:"It is because Catholics are encouraged to do so by the hierarchy, from the present Pope down." Can you give us some examples by quoting statements made by the hierarchy and/or the 'present Pope'? Why the present Pope? What about the past Popes?

I can give you one example: Mother Theresa.. Dun Gorg the gozitan who is working miracles among the poor of Peru and Ethiopia and like these there are thousands of others carrying out sterling work without respite, not for the love of money, not for fame or self aggrandisment, but for the selfless Love of one's neighbour. But the hierarchy tells us to bash the minorities is it? OR is it all in your mind?

Read again my previous comment, it seems that you failed completely to understand what I wrote.

Andrew Camilleri

May 16th 2009, 23:31

@Franco Farrugia: Utterly untrue. I try to take my faith seriously, and part of that is accepting everyone for who they are. Including those of a different sexual orientation.

I know that certain minorities face hatred and intolerance by certain bigots who use religion as an excuse for their hate. I think you'll find that the Catholic, from the Pope down, does not 'hate' the gay; certain homosexual practices clash with the Catholic belief, as do certain heterosexual practices. Don't come and tell me that the church is biased against heterosexuals too? You should know better then that.

Joseph Ellul

May 16th 2009, 23:24

For your information, the Russian gays where refused a permit to march in public. The reason was that as an Orthodox country , the Russian people are against gays and a public march would start a public fight with opponents. The police told them this. Those foriegn marchers were being unlawful and will be prosecuted as trouble makers. What the police did was to protect public peace and the safety of the marchers. It is better to be arrested and put in a bus then to be beaten up and thrown in the Volga river. Gays may have rights but if they want to flaunt it, they must be prepared to loose it.

Franco Farrugia

May 16th 2009, 21:19

@ Martin Farrugia - They 'flaunt' it perhaps because of the hardship they face daily? Perhaps they do so out of a sense of frustration because they are treated differently from others - the only difference being in the way they love?
@ Andrew Camilleri, Alex Ellul - You probably do not see the plight of 'minorities' faced even in our own country. Just follow some declarations and statements made and you will know what I mean. But you have to feel the pulse of such minorities in order to better appreciate what I am talking about.
' If some of us do express ourselves badly its not because Catholicsm is wrong, but its because such persons are bad Catholics, just like there are good and bad members in all communities.' Wrong again. It is because Catholics are encouraged to do so by the hierarchy, from the present Pope down.

Martin Farrugia

May 16th 2009, 19:04

The issue is not about being gay. Nothing much one can do about sexual orientations. But do they have to flaunt it? What's the point?

Alex Ellul

May 16th 2009, 15:40

I would like to show my solidarity with the Russian gay community, especially for its right of holding public meetings and other manifestations. I would like to express my condemnation of the Russian police' treatment of the persons involved and the Russian state's unwillingness to move away totally from its totalitarian character, recently re-awakened by Putin. I am saying all this both as a democrat and as a Catholic.

I would also like to condemn expressions (not the person) such as that expressed here below by Mr. Franco Farrugia, who seems to have a personal problem with the Maltese Catholic community, similar to the Russian police having a problem with handling communities such gays.

We Catholics are a community too, with our rights of expression. If some of us do express ourselves badly its not because Catholicsm is wrong, but its because such persons are bad Catholics, just like there are good and bad members in all communities.

May I address such Catholics to review their positions and to learn to accept all persons as human beings, and not to condemn the person, as we have been thought since we were born. When people lose this principle, big problems arise.

Andrew Camilleri

May 16th 2009, 13:43

@Franco Farrugia: Why the pointless comments? Of course not, it's not a right thing at all. People who say those things are not Christian.

Franco Farrugia

May 16th 2009, 11:25

I am sure that there would be many Maltese holier-than-thous, bible-huggers and so on who would say, or think, rather, something on the lines that 'serves them right'. This is what some Catholics would want to see happening in their own countries.