I'm scratching my head as to why Online Opinion published this shoddy piece of writing.

It is fair enough to make the point that other countries aren't perfect on gay rights. But it is ridiculous to compare a country like Australia that is moving forward on gay rights (albeit too slowly) with a country that is actively and deliberately going backwards.

The link relating to Australian "gay panic defence": (a) is actually about Australian states removing this law from the statute books and says that the three states that have not yet done so are seen as "lagging behind"; (b) does not mention the federal government, despite the author claiming that the federal government supports the law; and (c) states that Stephen Fry signed a petition to abolish the gay panic defence - yet the author blithely says "it is more likely that Fry doesn't know about the disgusting ... law".

Opinion piece authors have a basic responsibility to read their own source material and to try to present it accurately. Failing to do so simply undermines their arguments and makes them look foolish. Online Opinion should not be wasting its readers' time with such rubbish.

One should not criticise Stephen Fry for running a campaign against Russia which is an inveterate enemy of human rights. Suggesting as the author does that its laws make it as welcoming a venue for visiting homosexual athletes as Australia or Britain denies actual on-the-ground experience. It's like pointing to the lack of racial discrimination in American law after 1865 as reflecting reality while Jim Crow ruled the land for well over a century thereafter and still lurks in Reb-land. However despite the moral case for the Russia boycott the tactical reasons that Mr Sullivan gives against it are compelling.

wow fancy the Russians showing more integrity than the West on this one. They are smart enough to know that the homosexual lobbies tactics in brainwashing kids leads only to destruction.

You are an arrogant person Rach! Just because you don't like what the writer write, it doesn't mean he hasn't the right to write it? After all isn't Oz supposed to be a free country? I'm from eastern European country originaly and that's the sort of thing they used to do at home and worse! I don't like you at all, you're very smug and nasty arrogant person! Go away please!

Runner, because of this Russian law gay people are being bashed, brutalised and murdered.
Your "god" will not forgive you, for your callous indifference to the suffering of others.

Kipp - I know that in Australia "poofter bashing" (that is the term used when they go out to do it) is still happening, we have laws against homosexuality so does that make us in some way as bad as Russia.

Besides who is to say who is right, just because some countries believe in gay marriage or other sensitive issues does not mean those countries against it are wrong.

Must admit I did not read the article, just come in on your comment.

Runner just like Religion does, indoctrinate all the crap as soon as they are out of nappies.

Don't individual nations have the right to create their own laws?
The author mentions the European Union's pressure tactics on the UK, yet seems to *endorse* this, not condemn it.

If Russia, UK or Australia can't have differing laws, we may as well not have our own legislators.
Does the author support a global government imposing uniform laws, regardless of local opinion?

The Russian law about "propaganda to minors" sounds perfectly reasonable to me (and I'm gay).

To be successful, the prosecutor would have to *prove* the intent of the accused was targeting minors!
Not consenting adults, minors.

And it's not limited to "gay" stuff. It says "non-traditional".
That also includes bestiality, necrophilia, BDSM, group sex/orgies.
Would you really want children reading "This Little Piggy Got Whipped?"
What's wrong with this law?

Did you get your titles confused, Shockadelic?

"This Little Piggy Got Whipped?" was a Victorian cautionary tale about child chastisement...

You meant "This Little Piggy got Porked".

I would suggest you Google "Gay bashing in Russia", which have disturbing graphic images, of what is happening today to GLBTI people in Russia.

Kipp - I don't have to Google it to know there are violent mongrels in Russia.

What about Australia people being violently assaulted for not giving a stranger a cigarette when they ask for one, people being killed by a mongrel king hitting them for no reason, people assaulting 94 yo pensions there are a lot more examples you can Google them.

Every country has undesirable people.

Though not in the numbers they have in Russia, that have free rein to brutalise and murder gay people; which has come about because of this law.

Practicing gays are sinful.
I am sinful too.
What then is the difference between me and a practicing gay?

I know I am sinful and I am not proud of it.
I ask for forgiveness from God and ask Him for strength not to sin again.

Practising gays celebrate their immoral ways.
And even worse, they want recognition, by society and by law.
I will never agree.

I do not
A. Want my grandchildren to learn that homosexuality is acceptable
B. I do not want school text books to teach that gay sex is normal... IT IS NOT.
C. I do not want gay couples to adopt our children because their unnatural union will not give them children. Gay unions are by laws of nature, self terminating.

I do not believe gays should be hunted, tortured, or prosecuted.
Just live your life quietly and do not push boundaries.

NO, the silent majority will not sit quietly by while you push your agenda.

Platypus 1900, what utter rubbish you write, asking your God for forgiveness for sinning would be like asking a turkey the same thing, at least the turkey existed, but there is no proof on your God except in your mind.

@oj
The turkey confided in me there is a God.
It told me also, "The fool said in his heart, There is no God"

:)

Quote
I do not
A. Want my grandchildren to learn that homosexuality is acceptable
B. I do not want school text books to teach that gay sex is normal... IT IS NOT.
C. I do not want gay couples to adopt our children because their unnatural union will not give them children. Gay unions are by laws of nature, self terminating.

I will 2nd those.

I know that in Australia "poofter bashing" (that is the term used when they go out to do it) is still happening,
Philip S,
I'd think no more than the poofters' conservative (Coalition) bashing.

individual - With the pathetic politicians we have it should be open season on them, I can't think of one I would say is doing a good job.

Kipp "Though not in the numbers they have in Russia, that have free rein to brutalise and murder gay people; which has come about because of this law."

Yes, Kipp, there's a hell of a lot more people in Russia, so the crime statistics would seem higher than Australia.
But per capita?

People are not being murdered "because of this law".
The type of brutal thug who does those things obviously doesn't care what laws exist (Newsflash: Murder is illegal!).