Today's News, Tomorrow's Lesson - January 23, 2014

In an attempt to deflect criticism from his “anti-gay” laws, Russian
president Vladimir Putin has in the past week revealed himself to be a
fan of Sir Elton John, describing the singer as “an outstanding person
and outstanding musician” loved throughout the country, “despite his
orientation.”

Now Sir Elton, who came out as gay in 1988, is using this as a
springboard to try to lobby on behalf of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender (LGBT) community in Russia.

In a statement on his website, Sir Elton makes reference to the
country’s recent passing of a law banning “propaganda of
non-traditional sexual relations” or any suggestion that homosexual and
heterosexual relationships are equivalent, and writes: “Vicious
homophobia has been legitimized by this legislation and given
extremists the cover to abuse people’s basic human rights.”

He shares stories from gay fans about the physical and verbal abuse
they have received, and adds that the new law has had an adverse effect
on efforts to improve information-sharing, as “some of the vital work
providing HIV prevention information to the gay community has been
labelled ‘homosexual propaganda’ and shut down.”

The legislation has come under scrutiny from the international
community not just for its effect on Russia’s LGBT community but
because of fears that it could affect competitors and spectators taking
part in this year’s Olympic Winter Games, which are due to be held next
month in the city of Sochi.

Speaking to TES this week, Dmitry
Livanov, Russian minister of education and science, defended the
new law, claiming that it was aimed at preserving Russian “tradition.”

“We...think that every society has a certain set of traditions and
restrictions, and everyone should understand those traditions and
should respect not only the history of the society they live and work
in but also the restrictions that society imposes,” Mr. Livanov said.

However, Sir Elton laments the new law’s promotion of
“misunderstanding and ignorance.”

“In particular,” he writes, “it is very disappointing that the law
explicitly links homosexuality with child sex abuse, which countless
studies have shown to be conclusively wrong.”

Sir Elton concludes with an offer to introduce Mr. Putin to members
of Russia’s LGBT community in order to try to change his mind about the
“deeply divisive” legislation.

“[Those in Russia’s LGBT community] deserve to be treated in their
own country with the same respect and warm welcome that I received on
my last visit,” the singer says.