This week’s events in Moscow should have been joyous. Rob Heffernan’s gold medal shows us that good guys do win. Rob’s love of both his sport and his family shone through and added to the feel-good summer we are having.
There is however a cold wind blowing from the east, and it is a hateful and hurtful wind. The great protector of the Fatherland Vladimir Putin - the horseman/wrestler/long distance swimmer/all-round superhero - has decided that if you are Russian, you are straight. Men are men and women make babies with men. Any ‘promotion’ of a gay lifestyle (whatever that is) to under 18s is now punishable by a lengthy period in prison. Ah yes, that’s the way to do it.
I have to laugh at the idea of promoting homosexuality. Yes indeedy, for one day only you too can become gay. Sign up here and receive your free pink handcuffs as we all know that gay sex is always kinky.
What happens if you are 16 and realize you may be gay? Or if your 66 and realize your life of unhappiness was caused by denying who you are to yourself? We have seen the detrimental effects of such repression in this state where a kiss would have seen you having a criminal record.
The cold wind blew a bit harsher yesterday when the world pole vault Champion Yelena Isinbayeva came out in support of the draconian laws. What made Ms Isinbayeva’s comments more chilling was that they were mingled with laughter. They seemed so casual and that is what made them menacing. It also implied that there were no gays in Russia. Well there’s a thing!
Russia’s most famous cultural export is ballet. While not wanting to fall into stereotypes, the stunning masculine athleticism of a male ballet star is linked to names like Rudolph Nureyev.
While writing this article I remember the words of Pastor Neimoller in the 1930s:
“First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—
because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me—
and there was no one left to speak out for me.”
I can’t say I’m not gay. But I am a human being who understands love comes in many, many forms. Celebrating that love is what makes us special.
