This statement is riddled with holes. The law in which he refers to "bans propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations to minors". However looking at the reasoning behind the law and what it actually makes it illegal shows complete discrimination. It makes illegal public support of gay and lesbian because that could promote it to children. That means no pride rallies or even support on the internet. people can be fined up to $40,000 in american dollars. So tell me Putin, how does this not discriminate if an individual can not state ones own feelings?
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Joseph Ko
2/18/2014 05:40:14 am
Putin is saying one thing while his actions say another. The recent "Anti-Gay" bill that was recently passed does discriminate and does make people of the non-traditional orientation feel like second rate citizen.
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Hannah Haas
2/18/2014 11:30:52 pm
At this point, Putin is just making himself look like a fool by not sticking to the language of the bill. Passing the law in the first place is something I would consider to be unforgivable, but then trying to cover it up just adds a layer of deception that makes the Russian government look even worse.
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Rachel Schmitt
2/23/2014 11:43:18 am
Putin's statement would almost seem comical if I wasn't aware of all of the suffering that Russian LGBT community was facing. The fact that he can say that the law "does not hurt anyone" when lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals are the targets of public acts of violence is sickening. I feel like it's pretty safe to say that institutionalizing homophobia and transphobia in Russia is a form of discrimination--but that's just me.
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Jordan Palmer
4/14/2014 06:28:50 am
The point of the adopted law seems unclear if Putin is claiming no discrimination has occurred/is occurring. Regardless of the future of the bill, I agree that the damage has been done. It is likely that those of non-traditional orientation will continue and may always feel second-rate. How do you go back from that?
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Tin Nguyen
4/14/2014 03:53:40 pm
It is hard to tell whether Putin is ignorant of the gays living in Russia, or whether Putin is blatantly lying about the effects of the gay propaganda law. In my opinion, it seems that Putin clearly knows that there are gays in Russia, and is clearly discriminating against them. The law assumes that children NEED protection from homosexuality in the first place, showing Putin's stance on the issue. Further, I think that Putin states that the law does not hurt anyone, because if gays publicly came out they would be punished, therefore gays do not come out in fear and the law does not "hurt" anyone.
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Claire Wilcox
4/15/2014 09:49:02 pm
What I think is interesting about this quote is that our president could say a similar statement but with a whole different connotation. For Putin it seems as if he is looking at his country from afar and saying that as a whole, the country is equal. For us in the U.S., we focus on individuals to determine equality. Two very different mind sets.
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Caroline Ostrander
Senior Public Relations major from Raleigh, N.C.
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