Dmitri Kisilev who anchors Vesit, the leading news show in Russia, delivered a chilling rant yesterday (please see update below) on a competing state-controlled television program that should put to rest any doubt that the Russian government is not content with simply silencing their LGBT citizens, but is actively involved in whipping up fervently anti-gay hatred against them. This is not just some crank newscaster spouting his own personal animus. Kisilev also happens to be the Deputy General Director of the Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, according to a Google translation of his bio.
I think that just imposing fines on gays for homosexual propaganda among teenagers is not enough. They should be banned from donating blood, sperm. And their hearts, in case of the automobile accident, should be buried in the ground or burned as unsuitable for the continuation of life.
While it is true that our own country still prohibits gays from donating
blood,
sperm, and
organs, it has been due to what many consider an
unwarranted overabundance of caution in an effort to safeguard the nation's blood supply from exposure to HIV. Even if these bans hold overtones of homophobia, our country has mercifully stopped short of suggesting our hearts be ripped from our chests and burned in the unfortunate event of car accidents. That enters the realm of safeguarding against
vampires and
witches.
There is no mistaking the symbolism at play with Kisilev's suggestion that our hearts be buried or burned as they are "unsuitable for the continuation of life." Whether or not they are still beating at the time doesn't seem to matter enough for clarification. It sends a clear message that Kisilev, and by extension the Russian state, views LGBT people as filthy undesirables undeserving of not only dignity, but of their very lives, and their remains unworthy of proper and compassionate disposal. The message is unmistakable in the tacet permission it gives for society at large to do what it will against their own LGBT citizens.
The world was recently lectured by Russian Sports Minister, Vitaly Mutko that we are overreacting to Russia's recent pogrom against their gay citizens and that we should all just calm down. I most vehemently beg to differ. With homophobic rhetoric ramping up to the level shown above, the world needs to speak out more loudly than ever. It isn't enough to call for the boycott of liquor or Olympic games, or travel to Russia. It is time for the world community of nations itself to collectively demand that Putin and his government put an end to the persecution and human rights abuses or face meaningful consequences.
With special acknowledgment to John Aravosis at America Blog.
Updated to add this excellent comment by pico, who sheds more light on this story.
It gets worse: (2+ / 0-)
The video clip was from April of last year... Here's the full program, sans subtitles unfortunately. He was interviewed about it recently (and amused that anyone bothered to dig it up), and he doubled down on his stance:
Because homosexuals are forbidden to be donors of blood, organs, and so on, that is, they are not included among donors [in the rest of the world]. And I believe that we need to adopt laws that comply with international practices. That's all it is ... for example, if a homosexual dies in America, they don't touch him, they don't take his organs.
Oh, but aren't neo-Nazis murdering LGBTs?
We have this problem with homosexuals in that they behave provocatively, they behave like victims, and yes, that is certainly encouraging, provoking a situation that they are victims. No one's hindering them from loving each other as much as they want. They are aggressively imposing their minority values on the majority. So sure, society will oppose it. Naturally, right? In various, including brutal forms.
What an awful fuck.