Eight U.S. states have policies similar to Russia's ban on "gay propaganda"

[Revy]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/02/03/eight-u-s-states-have-policies-similar-to-russias-ban-on-gay-propaganda/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/files/2014/02/NoPromoHomo.png


“No promo homo” states are those that prohibit educators from discussing homosexuality in a positive way or, in some cases, at all. States that prohibit enumeration are those that don’t allow local school districts from enacting policies aimed specifically at preventing bullying over sexual orientation or gender identity. (Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network)

It is Utah that prohibits “the advocacy of homosexuality.” Arizona prohibits portrayals of homosexuality as a “positive alternative life-style” and has legislatively determined that it is inappropriate to even suggest to children that there are “safe methods of homosexual sex.” Alabama and Texas mandate that sex-education classes emphasize that homosexuality is “not a lifestyle acceptable to the general public.” Moreover, the Alabama and Texas statutes mandate that children be taught that “homosexual conduct is a criminal offense” even though criminalizing private, consensual homosexual conduct has been unconstitutional since 2003.

The professors, Ian Ayres and William Eskridge, point out that in 2002 the United States hosted the Winter Olympics in Utah, one of the eight states, and argue that those criticizing Russia should also focus on changing the similar domestic laws.


The eight states that have such prohibitions in place are Alabama, Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and Utah.

[Jimmie Higgins]

Yeah the US passes a few relativly superficial (and in terms of popular opinions, long overdue) reforms of homophobic restrictions and the media turns around the next day and uses homophobic legislation in Russia and Africa to justify jingoistic competition and imperial paternalism respectively.

[bricolage]

The UK only got rid of its Section 28 law 10 years ago and the legacy is still there (https://humanism.org.uk/2013/08/19/bha-identifies-44-schools-that-continue-to-have-section-28-like-policies/), not to mention parliament being jammed with politicians that voted in favour of it.

Today LGBT asylum seakers are regularly deported (http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/feb/08/home-office-gay-asylum-seekers-questioning) back to countries where they run the risk of violence. If you can't 'prove' it you're out:

Some Home Office caseworkers simply refuse to believe that an individual is gay, lesbian or bisexual. The overwhelming majority of asylum refusals by the Home Office fall into this category.

Google, Channel 4, whatever may be changing logos and putting in adverts to prove their liberal credentials but I'll respect that as anything other than a PR device when they start to turn it against their own countries. None of this is to understate the level of homophobia in Russia and the horrific violence that happens on the streets, but to highlight the rank hypocrisy of Brits/Americans that will declare their disgust at the uncivilised in the East but turn a blind eye to what happens closer to open. If you want to talk about boycotting Sochi 2014 then you damn well should have been talking about boycotting London 2012 too.

[Nemo]

...as western governments wag their fingers at Russia for its anti-queer policies. It boils down to hypocrisy and awful tu quoque, which is obnoxiously typical.