A Lightning Rod For Russian Democracy

Ever so now and then the media identifies a cause that generates a certain amount of buzz. They are often agitated by celebrities of some kind and may spread to become supported by sports personalities and the like. The genius of them lies in the simplicity of their message, and the contrasts between an issue here and somewhere else. In this case the issue is Russian Gay Rights, or lack thereof. This issue has piqued the consciences of many in the western world, due to the practical non-existence of government discrimination against homosexuals in the west (a few exceptions exist granted). How can they do that? Can you imagine that here? These questions are often heard in the context of these campaigns. As far as I understand Russia has had a rocky road with gay rights before, but the latest concerns have arisen from a law passed about preventing spreading "Gay Propaganda".

Words fail me when I mull over the term "gay propaganda", especially when it comes from the legislature of a country past and present that has much worse propaganda to worry about. From what I can tell this odious waste of Russian taxpayers money basically seeks to restrict awareness within the Russian public about gay issues. I believe this law is concerned about the teaching about gay rights issues to children. It is always about the children when it comes to backward social conservatism, then way I see it. And in some ways so it should be. Children need to know that people are born different and that the lives they lead are to be respected. The biggest lie of arch-social conservatism is that being gay is some choice. A gay friend of mine once turned around to me and said, "you know Zac if I could choose to be straight I would. Why would I choose a life that makes me more likely to be persecuted". Then my right honourable friend turned around and concluded with "But I like cock, so that is that" with a cheeky grin on his face, no doubt trying to make me squirm and thus leave me in a fit if liberal guilt. He failed in both endeavours I may add.

So homophobia is bad. I have established my tolerance credentials. Now for the controversial part. While I am acutely aware that the "gay propaganda" law will make many people's lives possible I think it is a campaign that is stealing the limelight from another one that will affect all Russians. I am referring to the steep decline in democracy in Russia. It is exemplified every day by stories of yet another opposition figure put on trial for fabricated corruption charges. It was exemplified by Vladimir Putin unconstitutionally running again and winning again the Presidency of Russia, allowing him to carry on putting nails into the coffin of Russian democracy, never fully realised. This Czar mentality was very publicly demonstrated when an operative of Putin's killed Alexandrer Litvinenko on our soil.

The Germans, through their Chancellor Angela Merkel have very publicly shown that they have had enough of Putin. And yet in the year of Alexander Litvenenko's inquest I see pictures of Putin striding across Downing Street to No 10, grasping the hand of our Prime Minister like some respectable state leader. President Vladimir Putin is a gangster-in-chief who is barely fit to crawl through Larry the No 10s cat flap never mind be given the full State welcome package. Dont get me wrong, diplomacy has to carry on. We still have diplomatic links with the inappropriately named Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

So Stephen Fry to his credit highlights an important issue, gay rights under threat in Russia. But democracy in Russia is important to gay Russians too. In the media the issue of democracy in Russia took on a high profile with the reporting of mass demonstrations and the righteous outrage that came out over the imprisonment of the punk band Pussy Riot. But this very soon died out. In the interim between then and now came the issue of legalising gay marriage in Britain, which surprisingly enough the government turned into a debacle. The issue was widely talked about, the issue could be described as fashionable.

I think for better or worse the gay rights in Russia campaign is a typical 21st century campaign. The issue is important, because it is picking up a thread that has been bubbling around the media ciricuit in one form or another almost constantly. But in some ways that makes the prospects for other campaigns very bleak indeed. Are we so full of information and hooked on trends and issues of the moment that we can lose perspective? While gay rights is seized on now, questions about what is happening to democracy in Russia and what it means to us is being left alone.

The last issue what democracy means to us I think is the one that is most disturbing. From the evidence I have seen, I think a part of the reason of why we don’t trouble ourselves with the issue of democracy in Russia is because we are so disillusioned with our own. Turnout at the polls is shameful and the numbers are getting worst year after year. Anyone who talks about politics is seen as frankly a bit sad, or at best a nerd (derogatively). Even when people do talk about politics it is in reference to a few key issues. And always in reference to the bottomless cauldron of hatred the British have for politicians. There are very few places in the world where the profession is seen as entirely honourable, but even in places with worse corruption politicians in the UK are disliked disproportionately.

This sea of despair in the UK over our politicians halts most talk of what democracy means, and what it should look like structurally as well as how people would like it to change. But in order to go that far the British public needs hope. Hope that we can change our system for the better, which is in very short supply. Put simply, addressing questions about Russian democracy brings up inconvenient questions and bad feelings regarding our own.

If there is anything I want people taking the time to read this to take away with them it is the following. If athletes or visiting politicians feel the need to show a gay liberation flag at the Russian Winter Olympics, what is the harm in them flying the purple flag of democracy? Because by flying the colours of democracy in Russia they would be reminding Russians and their politicians of what we have and what many of them hope to achieve.