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| Putin, the Winter Olympics and why there are two kinds of homophobia | Putin, the Winter Olympics and why there are two kinds of homophobia |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Valdimir Putin is out and proud – as a homophobe, that is. He recently announced that gay people would not be subjected to harassment during the forthcoming Winter Olympics in Sochi, they can feel "calm and relaxed", so long as they "leave children alone, please". Putin said that, while Russia did not have a ban on "non-traditional sexual relationships", they had a ban on "the propaganda of homosexuality and paedophilia". Putin wanted to make that clear. He didn't. | Valdimir Putin is out and proud – as a homophobe, that is. He recently announced that gay people would not be subjected to harassment during the forthcoming Winter Olympics in Sochi, they can feel "calm and relaxed", so long as they "leave children alone, please". Putin said that, while Russia did not have a ban on "non-traditional sexual relationships", they had a ban on "the propaganda of homosexuality and paedophilia". Putin wanted to make that clear. He didn't. |
| Putin's announcement managed to be simultaneously offensive, ridiculous and manipulative, effectively saying: "You can come here, gay people, and we won't instantly attack and imprison you – but you must curb your disgusting paedophile ways for the duration of your stay." | Putin's announcement managed to be simultaneously offensive, ridiculous and manipulative, effectively saying: "You can come here, gay people, and we won't instantly attack and imprison you – but you must curb your disgusting paedophile ways for the duration of your stay." |
| First, attacking gay "propaganda" rather than actual gayness is a reeking red herring. Not even Putin could believe that gay people are going to barge into Russian classrooms distributing copies of Attitude and insisting on playground screenings of The Line of Beauty. | First, attacking gay "propaganda" rather than actual gayness is a reeking red herring. Not even Putin could believe that gay people are going to barge into Russian classrooms distributing copies of Attitude and insisting on playground screenings of The Line of Beauty. |
| Just as insidious was Putin's oh-so-casual linking of homosexuality to paedophilia, as if it were perfectly reasonable to bracket them, when of course it isn't – it's as ludicrous and insulting as casually linking heterosexuality to paedophilia. | Just as insidious was Putin's oh-so-casual linking of homosexuality to paedophilia, as if it were perfectly reasonable to bracket them, when of course it isn't – it's as ludicrous and insulting as casually linking heterosexuality to paedophilia. |
| At which point, you could say, well, what do you expect from Putin – everyone knows that Russian anti-gay legislation is a disgrace? However, could there be a danger in ignoring the fact that this kind of prejudice, particularly regarding gay men having sexual interest in children, is still rattling around, even in supposedly enlightened countries such as ours? That it hasn't magically disappeared in our shiny new times – it is just too "dated" to be aired. | At which point, you could say, well, what do you expect from Putin – everyone knows that Russian anti-gay legislation is a disgrace? However, could there be a danger in ignoring the fact that this kind of prejudice, particularly regarding gay men having sexual interest in children, is still rattling around, even in supposedly enlightened countries such as ours? That it hasn't magically disappeared in our shiny new times – it is just too "dated" to be aired. |
| Sadly, it's unlikely that Putin is merely expressing his own grotty views, rather, that he's also cynically pandering to ingrained anti-gay sentiment in parts of Russia. In the UK, an inversion appears to have occurred: just as gay people were once forced to be closeted, arguably now it's homophobes who feel closeted – forced to keep their worst prejudices under wraps lest they come under fire from what they droningly call the "PC-brigade". | Sadly, it's unlikely that Putin is merely expressing his own grotty views, rather, that he's also cynically pandering to ingrained anti-gay sentiment in parts of Russia. In the UK, an inversion appears to have occurred: just as gay people were once forced to be closeted, arguably now it's homophobes who feel closeted – forced to keep their worst prejudices under wraps lest they come under fire from what they droningly call the "PC-brigade". |
| These are people who, however illogically, would privately and instinctively link gayness with paedophilia, who, even these days, would argue that children are somehow "safer" with heterosexual parents than gay ones. | These are people who, however illogically, would privately and instinctively link gayness with paedophilia, who, even these days, would argue that children are somehow "safer" with heterosexual parents than gay ones. |
| Certainly, much of the opposition to gay parenting seemed to centre on how "unnatural" it was, which at times seemed to be weird code for: "Why should gay men want to be near children unless they're pederasts?" Thankfully, such views have been outlawed, but this doesn't mean that they no longer exist in the western DNA; it's rather more likely that bigots feel they can't be as "out" about their homophobia as someone such as Putin. | Certainly, much of the opposition to gay parenting seemed to centre on how "unnatural" it was, which at times seemed to be weird code for: "Why should gay men want to be near children unless they're pederasts?" Thankfully, such views have been outlawed, but this doesn't mean that they no longer exist in the western DNA; it's rather more likely that bigots feel they can't be as "out" about their homophobia as someone such as Putin. |
| Not that everyone is so shy: Ukip councillor David Silvester, who defected from the Tories over gay marriage, blamed the recent storms on God's fury over the legislation. | Not that everyone is so shy: Ukip councillor David Silvester, who defected from the Tories over gay marriage, blamed the recent storms on God's fury over the legislation. |
| His rant comprised so much biblical hellfire and damnation one now expects plagues of toads and locusts at the very least. Again this is laughable. However, it is still very much out there. | His rant comprised so much biblical hellfire and damnation one now expects plagues of toads and locusts at the very least. Again this is laughable. However, it is still very much out there. |
| Of course, arguing that things are as bad for LGBT people here as they are in Russia would be absurd. Part of me wants the visiting Winter Olympic athletes, gay or otherwise, to finish all fixtures by snogging the faces off same-sex teammates, just to prove a point. But, hey, that's easy for me to say from the safety of the UK; relative safety being the point. | Of course, arguing that things are as bad for LGBT people here as they are in Russia would be absurd. Part of me wants the visiting Winter Olympic athletes, gay or otherwise, to finish all fixtures by snogging the faces off same-sex teammates, just to prove a point. But, hey, that's easy for me to say from the safety of the UK; relative safety being the point. |
| Is anti-gay prejudice less ugly or dangerous because it hides in the shadows? Frankly, yes. Bad outdated thoughts are one thing; what appears to be state-sanctioned homophobia is quite another. Saying that, let's not get too complacent. Putin may be as out of the homophobe-closet as it is possible to be – others are not so visible. | Is anti-gay prejudice less ugly or dangerous because it hides in the shadows? Frankly, yes. Bad outdated thoughts are one thing; what appears to be state-sanctioned homophobia is quite another. Saying that, let's not get too complacent. Putin may be as out of the homophobe-closet as it is possible to be – others are not so visible. |
| It's just what one's always wanted | It's just what one's always wanted |
| This year's list of official gifts received by the royal family has been released for our amusement. Among the jewels, tiaras and other beauteous artefacts that have to be given, there was a state coach made out of chocolate. If that doesn't tickle your fancy, how about a portrait of the Queen burnt into tree bark? Or another portrait of the Princess Royal riding a moose? | This year's list of official gifts received by the royal family has been released for our amusement. Among the jewels, tiaras and other beauteous artefacts that have to be given, there was a state coach made out of chocolate. If that doesn't tickle your fancy, how about a portrait of the Queen burnt into tree bark? Or another portrait of the Princess Royal riding a moose? |
| Elsewhere, there was a classy sounding "Queen standing with Postman Pat" ornament, a knitted hat with horse's ears, a London underground Oyster card and a Prince Harry lookalike doll that seems as though it might come alive at the dead of night and start quoting from the Old Testament and stabbing people. There was also a clear plastic angel and a gnome. The latter I'll have off them if they want rid of it – there's a patch of dirty gravel near my bins that needs brightening up. Good of me, I know. | Elsewhere, there was a classy sounding "Queen standing with Postman Pat" ornament, a knitted hat with horse's ears, a London underground Oyster card and a Prince Harry lookalike doll that seems as though it might come alive at the dead of night and start quoting from the Old Testament and stabbing people. There was also a clear plastic angel and a gnome. The latter I'll have off them if they want rid of it – there's a patch of dirty gravel near my bins that needs brightening up. Good of me, I know. |
| Don't the royal family get naff gifts? It's akin to the Christmas morning from hell, when you excitedly tear open a parcel and discover stripy socks with toes, and a topless photo of James Blunt. If it were just the British public who were responsible for these gifts it might be more understandable – after all, what do you give a family when you have already given them everything? However, many of the funnier gifts came from multinational businesses, regiments, even other nations. | Don't the royal family get naff gifts? It's akin to the Christmas morning from hell, when you excitedly tear open a parcel and discover stripy socks with toes, and a topless photo of James Blunt. If it were just the British public who were responsible for these gifts it might be more understandable – after all, what do you give a family when you have already given them everything? However, many of the funnier gifts came from multinational businesses, regiments, even other nations. |
| Perhaps HM should send out a memo: "Keep it simple with a family tin of Roses from now on." As it is, congratulations to her granddaughter Zara on the birth of her daughter, but going by this evidence, she shouldn't hold her breath about the great presents she is going to get. | Perhaps HM should send out a memo: "Keep it simple with a family tin of Roses from now on." As it is, congratulations to her granddaughter Zara on the birth of her daughter, but going by this evidence, she shouldn't hold her breath about the great presents she is going to get. |
| Seconds out for prime minister's punch-ups | Seconds out for prime minister's punch-ups |
| Who could believe the punch-up between Ukraine MPs in parliament, sparked by the president making a speech in Russian? People were battering each other. Some were bleeding. One man seemed to be trying to crowd surf as if mistaking the scene for some sort of bad-tempered, pinstriped Glastonbury. Afterwards, I saw photos of other parliamentary skirmishes everywhere from Korea to Australia to Canada. We pay our taxes – where's our government brawl? | Who could believe the punch-up between Ukraine MPs in parliament, sparked by the president making a speech in Russian? People were battering each other. Some were bleeding. One man seemed to be trying to crowd surf as if mistaking the scene for some sort of bad-tempered, pinstriped Glastonbury. Afterwards, I saw photos of other parliamentary skirmishes everywhere from Korea to Australia to Canada. We pay our taxes – where's our government brawl? |
| Of course, parliamentary violence is never the answer, but it made for a nice change. It might be quite thrilling if Ed Miliband suddenly shouted during PMQs: "Shut it, you lying toff prat!" and lunged at David Cameron, the pair engaging in heated fisticuffs, before being pulled apart by Eric Pickles and Alan Johnson, both simultaneously shouting: "He's not worth it!", then both sitting down, flicking Vs at each other, mouthing: "You want a piece of me?", while Nick Clegg cries his eyes out. | Of course, parliamentary violence is never the answer, but it made for a nice change. It might be quite thrilling if Ed Miliband suddenly shouted during PMQs: "Shut it, you lying toff prat!" and lunged at David Cameron, the pair engaging in heated fisticuffs, before being pulled apart by Eric Pickles and Alan Johnson, both simultaneously shouting: "He's not worth it!", then both sitting down, flicking Vs at each other, mouthing: "You want a piece of me?", while Nick Clegg cries his eyes out. |
| Not that I'm advocating brutality as a form of government, but it would sure beat the only sign of life now – the dismal rumble of "Phwoar!" every time a woman gets up to speak. | Not that I'm advocating brutality as a form of government, but it would sure beat the only sign of life now – the dismal rumble of "Phwoar!" every time a woman gets up to speak. |
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