Kremlin[/caption]Carol Forsloff--While Russia has enacted a new law to protect children from the influence of homosexuals, within the culture the widespread acceptance of such a law is even upheld by an omnibudsman who are usually the ones who protect the rights of the disadvantaged and minorities.
In fact polls have found that 76 percent of Russians support the new bill, but this is said to be a relatively new attitude that results from the chaos in the social fabric and economy of the 1990’s. It’s during times of economic insecurity, one writer observes, that prejudices against minority groups surface, as it has in Russia. But in Russia the humanitarian approach by some is simply to reinforce the rights of the greater community as opposed to offering any advocacy for the rights of gay minorities.
Konstantin Dolgov, Russia’s Foreign Ministry Human Rights Commissioner maintains his surprise that the West has reacted so strongly about Russia’s laws referencing children and homosexuals that bans propaganda of of homosexuality among minors. Russian newspapers quote him as saying "The laws adopted in Russia, which have alarmed the so-called freedom fighters so much, are intended exclusively to protect children from harmful information imposed on them.”
In the meantime the Russian Interior Minister has announced there will be no discrimination of gays at the Sochi Olympics.
