[Ifroham4]

Thinking of taking a vacation to Europe this summer? If a trip to iconic city of Moscow or the edgier St. Petersburg is on your bucket list, an anti-gay law recently passed in Russia may have you thinking again. It is now outlawed to be ‘out and proud.’

In a throwback to the country’s authoritarian ruling, Russian president Vladimir Putin has signed a controversial law that punishes people for “homosexual propaganda.” The law fines people—including tourists—up to 200,000 rubles ($6,240 CDN) for “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations.” For Canadians—where same-sex marriage is legal—it is unfathomable that Russia’s laws permit the government to arrest and detain gay, or pro-gay, foreigners for up to 14 days before they would then be expelled from the country.

So what is considered pro-gay? Anything from gay-affirmative speech to hand-holding; even displaying a rainbow flag alongside a maple leaf on your backpack is illegal. Recently in southern Russia, there were complaints that Elton John’s stage outfits fell under “gay propaganda.” While LGBT are being told they are unwelcome in Russia, with such vague definitions, one wonders if anyone who even looks like they might be gay could also be fined or deported from the country.

According to Voice of Russia, any display of affection between same-sex couples could cause a “distorted understanding” that gay relations and heterosexual relations are socially equivalent, and risk spreading Western liberalism. Putin claims the law doesn’t discriminate against LGBT people, but rather—in an argument riddled with faulty logic—is there to “protect children from pedophilia.”

With Gay Pride celebrated around the world, from Sydney, Australia, to Toronto, and with same-sex marriage currently legal in 13 countries with still more countries, including New Zealand and Uruguay, following suit, it is difficult to image a country voting to enact such uncompromising and harsh laws.

And how are these new laws going to impact tourism and the world’s spotlight on the upcoming 2014 Winter Games in Sochi? Will LGBT visitors—or anyone who embraces the gay community—want to visit the games? While Russia’s laws stigmatize and target the gay community, Brazil’s Ministry of Tourism is working to encourage the LGBT community to visit. Brazil, which is hosting the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, as well as the 2014 World Cup.

Fortunately, for LGBT travellers looking to take a vacation, there are other parts of the world more receptive to welcoming them with open arms—or at least not promising your vacation could wind up with jail time. Air Canada has gay and lesbian travel packages to places as diverse as Aruba and Tel Aviv, and promotes Copenhagen, Denmark as one of the first countries in Europe to legalize same-sex marriage. Or closer to home, New York’s Out NY Hotel advertises itself as “straight friendly.”

[tgs]

I propose that my country of Finland should arrest openly Russian Russian tourists.

[NeroASERCH]

Don't Finland and Russia have a rocky history? With like the Winter Wars?

[brraverishhh]

Yeah. And there's much more stuff before and after the wars. Our relationship with Russia cannot be explained in simple terms, everything about it is convoluted as fuck.

[NeroASERCH]

Finland fucked Russia up in the Winter War.. It was the reason why Hitler (mistakenly) thought he could roll over Russia on the Eastern Front. Who was that Finnish sniper who took at a couple hundred Russians by himself? badass..

[brraverishhh]

Simo Häyhä.

About fucking up Russia – the Winter War victory is somewhat hyped up in Finnish nationalistic talk. We did suffer from the war a great deal.
Also, we really took it up the ass from Russia during the Cold War. Finnish media and public discussion was suppressed by our own politicians whenever "anti-Soviet" opinions would surface. Finnish politicians made sure to lick as much Soviet ass as possible.
Of course our situation during the Cold War was very difficult, being one of the few border neighbors of Russia which wasn't assimilated into the Soviet empire. We bent over in every direction in trying to appease both the East and the West. And Finland was practically swarming with spies from both fronts.
Today, most Finnish politicians kiss the United States' ass. We're still the Little Bitch who Could.

[9mm_fan]

wow

Using a modified Mosin–Nagant in the Winter War, he has the highest recorded number of confirmed sniper kills – 505 – in any major war.[2] Furthermore, he has a total confirmed kill record of at least 705, as he is credited for at least 200 more kills with a Suomi 9mm submachine gun. All of these kills occurred within 100 days.

[Fegasderty]

and then lived to be 96.

[softy54534]

...not before getting shot in the FACE with an EXPLODING sniper bullet.
I almost died today because it was a little windy outside...
Get only a handful of guys like Simo, and you'd topple a country with them alone.

[Slonopotam845]

There are no guys like Simo. Only Simo.

[S.T.D.]

Russia Says It Will Arrest Openly Gay Tourists

I so want the German foreign Minister to make a visit to Moscow with his partner just to dare them to do something stupid.

[Beerinkol]

..... that would be worth watching. I'd have to get some popcorn first. They should totally do that, but on vacation, not official state business. And they need rainbow shirts and some other gay pride gear. (I'm not saying I'd want them to get arrested. Just to rock the boat.)

[Ifroham4]

He could be a strain on Russia/German relations. His party would not let him do anything that creates to much friction.

[tgs]

Psh, who has ever heard of friction in Russian-German relations. Don't be silly.

[NeroASERCH]

They would have diplomatic immunity. All the Russians could do is expel them, anything else and it's an act of war.

[brraverishhh]

I'd be more worried about the people of Russia doing something stupid than the government, in this case.

[9mm_fan]

I wonder what they're going to do about the Olympics, plenty of gay athletes, not to mention the type of people that will be present to witness.

[Fegasderty]

figure skating :O
WOW GREAT PERFORMANCE... HERE IS YOUR GOLD MEDAL... AND HERE IS YOUR HANDCUFFS YOU'RE COMING WITH ME

[9mm_fan]

That sounds more kinky than evil.

[softy54534]

I wonder what they're going to do about the Olympics, plenty of gay athletes, not to mention the type of people that will be present to witness.

Didn't even think about that... gonna have some pretty pissed off people if their athletes are arrested. I wonder if the IOC has anything to say about it.