Man Beaten in Moscow Bar for 'Looking Gay'- Page 6

[suestorm]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 11:40am

so obama just canceled the Russia-USA summit, falling right into Putins hands. now i guarantee he will say that the USA are bullies and dont want to negotiate, talk etc.

He shouldve went and made a bigger deal about it

Updated On: 8/7/13 at 11:40 AM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 11:41am

Matt, I think being public about it is probably her attempt at being less "disappearable."

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 11:44am

Oh, I believe that, Namo. I just think Putin doesn't care.

Updated On: 8/7/13 at 11:44 AM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 11:46am

I hope it goes as smoothly as possible for her, though to hear her story you realize how untenable the situation is in Russia for out gay people and how fearful they need to be of the average Russian citizens.

[suestorm]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 11:49am

shes american? why would she move to russia? its like an american moving to mexico, its just nuts

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 11:52am

And Matt, Gessen has always been a "be the change you want to see" type of activist. She's dedicated as hell, and hasn't seemed to even come close to burning out since I worked with her way back when.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 11:58am

Stephen Fry has written a stirring letter on the subject to David Cameron.


"Putin cannot be seen to have the approval of the civilised world"

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 12:00pm

I think she's amazing and I cannot fathom the amount of stress she must be experiencing. I really do hope they all get out safely so she can continue her work and be heard.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 12:06pm

Me too. And that Stephen Fry letter is breathtaking.

[Wynbish]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 12:08pm

Thanks for sharing that, Reg. Fry has one of the most wonderful use of words and an impeccable wealth of appropriate quotes.

Example:

“All that is needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing,” so wrote Edmund Burke. Are you, the men and women of the IOC going to be those “good” who allow evil to triumph?


Updated On: 8/7/13 at 12:08 PM

[tazber]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 12:09pm

Great article. Thanks for the link Reg.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 12:13pm

"I am begging you to resist the pressures of pragmatism, of money, of the oily cowardice of diplomats and to stand up resolutely and proudly for humanity the world over, as your movement is pledged to do."

This line is like a real kick in the pants to those of us -- and I am absolutely including myself in this critique -- who feel pre-defeated at even the thought of turning up the heat on the American corporate juggernauts.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 12:24pm

"Stephen Fry has written a stirring letter on the subject to David Cameron. "

Fry did a documentary about the laws, shortly after they came out. I hope his film is released soon.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 1:34pm

Reg, thanks for sharing that article. Fry's letter is inspiring. This whole situation is really firing me up politically. It's just too important an issue to just sit by and do nothing about.

[javero]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 1:55pm

"He shouldve went and made a bigger deal about it"

Perhaps he should have gone as well

[suestorm]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 2:40pm

agreed Javero, thats why canceling the USA RUSSIAN summit was so silly

[Wynbish]

Posted: 8/7/13 at 2:48pm

It's just too important an issue to just sit by and do nothing about.

Carlos, I'm right there with you, buddy. But seriously (and not pessimistically), what can we do?

Updated On: 8/7/13 at 02:48 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/8/13 at 12:18am

A piece by Masha Gessen from the International Herald Tribune the other day.


Gay Bashing Inside The Garden Ring

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/8/13 at 10:11am

First they came for the gays. Then they came for the artists. Then they came for the Jews...



Russian-Jew museum director beaten, fired for art criticizing Sochi Olympics

Updated On: 8/8/13 at 10:11 AM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/8/13 at 10:17am

Growing up Jewish (I'm 34 years old now), we were taught about Nazi Germany and how if society wasn't careful, it could easily happen again. For all my life I always thought that in this age of information and technology, that was impossible. I always just KNEW that if even the hint of something like that were to happen somewhere, that the world would immediately take notice and put a stop to it before it even started.

To see that I'm close to being so wrong on something like this makes me sick to my stomach and ashamed of the citizens of the world.

[suestorm]

Posted: 8/8/13 at 10:19am

well said

[Wynbish]

Posted: 8/8/13 at 10:29am

One of the reasons the Russians are using for going after Guelman? That he violated the copyright and/or trademark of the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Whaaa?