Dear President Putin,

 

As I sit here writing this letter, my phone keeps buzzing to let me know the latest updates from the 2014 Winter Olympics, currently being held in Sochi, Russia. The level of athleticism is extraordinary and I would like to take this moment to commend you for the incredible feat of putting on an Olympic Games. I am sure that the pressure to be a success weighed heavily on you, but the games have gone off with very few issues, a true testament to your leadership through the process. I would like to take this opportunity to discuss an issue that does weigh heavily on my mind, one that indirectly affects the Olympics and demands a change.

 

In June 2013, you signed a new law that had been passed unanimously by the Duma. This law from the Russian Parliament banned the distribution of “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations” to minors, but was written in a fashion that essentially is broad enough to apply to practically anyone and any instance of same-sex pride. As reported by the American newspaper, The Wall Street Journal, the law “makes it a crime to hold gay pride events, speak in defense of gay rights or to say gay relationships are equal to heterosexual ones.”[1] Although this is not to say that this is the intended purpose of the law, it is perhaps an unintentional byproduct of such legislation. I was pleased to see you quoted in the same piece as saying it is “necessary to defend the rights of sexual minorities.”[2] Based on this quote, it is clear to see that you are simply acting as the voice of the people, serving them by signing into law something that they desire. These doubts that you have are important to address because amending the law can dramatically improve the lives of some Russian citizens. Although there is not much data available on the exact number of LGBT individuals in Russia, due to the discrimination faced by those who come out, there is comparable data on the United States. According to the Williams Institute, around 9 million Americans identify as LGBT, comprising 3.5% of the population of close to 315 million.[3] If that ratio holds same for Russia, that would mean there are around 5 million LGBT individuals living in Russia, of the total population of around 145 million. These Russians deserve to be represented too, not treated as if they are an embarrassment.

 

I know that at times it can be difficult to represent the majority of people when at times you disagree with them. Moreover, you have spoken out about your feelings towards the future of Russian civilization and your worry that “same-sex marriages don’t produce children and that Russia and Europe face demographic challenges from lower birth rates.”[4] That is a factual sentiment, but it fails to prove significant enough an issue to warrant the prejudiced views on homosexual activities that have overtaken the Russian Federation. Although same-sex marriages do not produce biological children, the opportunities exist to adopt orphans from Russian orphanages, surrogacy, or even in-vitro fertilization. The potential is there for same-sex couples to be wonderful parents to Russian orphans or to utilize one of the other forms of conception available to them.

 

In the preparations for the Winter Olympics in Sochi, there was a lot of outrage from around the world, with LGBT activists voicing their disapproval of Russia, citing their fears for the safety of LGBT athletes participating in the games. Plenty of international leaders and humanitarians also expressed their disappointment in the law, signaling a widespread trend around the world towards increasing rights for LGBT citizens. President Barack Obama voiced his discontent, reassuring American citizens that “nobody’s more offended than me about some of the anti-gay and lesbian legislation that you’ve been seeing in Russia.”[5] Although he was critical of the law, he, as the leader of the United States, knows the struggles you face as a head of state, and he demonstrated his openness to working with you, detailing how America “continue[s] to do work with them but we have a strong disagreement on this issue.”[6] This is the sign that the door is open to reconciliation, but changes need to be made in Russia’s policies towards LGBT citizens. Additionally, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights released a statement condemning the Russian law, as well as similar laws across Eastern Europe. In it, part of the focus rests on the burden placed upon younger citizens of countries like Russia. The statement calls out “the restrictions imposed by these laws would also limit access to age-appropriate information on sexuality – an important component of the right to education and essential if adolescents are to be able to lead fulfilled and healthy lives. Comprehensive, non-discriminatory sexuality education is an essential factor in the fight against sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, a longstanding challenge in the region.”[7] The protection of all citizens should be a priority for any president of a country, especially Russia.

 

Can you imagine what life is like for a homosexual citizen of Russia? Living in a country that has declared you an abomination, while you are simply trying to live your life. You cannot change who are, but that does not mean that the majority of people know that. Instead, they are under the common misconception that you can and publicly advise people like you seek special treatment. Now think of one night when you go out for a night on the town. You are walking through the park with a companion and casually mention that you are gay. That’s the last thing you remember before your death. Can you imagine your country like this, YOUR Russia? This is a true story of a 23-year-old man killed in Volgograd. According to investigators, “the man’s body was found naked in the courtyard of an apartment building, his skull smashed with a stone, and he appeared to have been sodomized with several beer bottles,” a horrific act “motivated by homophobia.”[8] This is the life homosexuals face in Russia, but it is made even worse by laws that prevent public education on LGBT issues. The only way to change public opinion towards homosexuals is to educate those who are prejudiced and discriminatory.

 

Looking at the history of Russia, there has been a trend towards democracy and freedom after a long period of totalitarianism and communism, but the segregation of a group of citizens based on their sexual orientation is not a step in the right direction, in fact, it is a step backwards, harkening back to the Soviet Union and not representing the potential of the Russian Federation. While Russia’s past might have elements that are to be celebrated, it also comes with a large amount of international criticism, which could lead to intervention and armed conflict. Now is the time to reverse the trend of restricting civil rights and civil liberties. These current policies are outdated and unfair, representative of a different time, a different era, one full of dictatorial governments and institutions. Modern Russia should shed the manacles of the past and create a future all Russians can be proud of and embrace.

 

Nobody should have to hide who they are. Russian society as it stands now heaps tons of shame upon members of the LGBT community. A constant state of fear descends upon them with each waking morning, forced to live a lie, denied the ability just to be. Everyday new stories of abuse and discrimination heaped upon LGBT advocates come out in the media, signaling to LGBT citizens that it is still not safe to be who they are. Now is the opportunity to make a change in Russia’s LGBT policies. Mr. Putin, give your citizens, all of your citizens, the pride of being part of a Russia that accepts all lifestyles. The thanks of a grateful nation will be with you, as well as a grateful world.

 

Respectfully Yours,

Andrew Loeb

 

 

 

 

 

[1] Lukas Alpert. “Russia Passes Bill Banning Gay ‘Propaganda’”. The Wall Street Journal. 6 June 2013. http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887323495604578539220032220406

 

[2] Ibid.

 

[3] The Williams Institute. How Many People are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender? April 2011. http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/research/census-lgbt-demographics-studies/how-many-people-are-lesbian-gay-bisexual-and-transgender/

 

[4] Scott Rose. “Putin Signs Law Banning Gay ‘Propaganda’ Among Children”. Bloomberg. 30 June 2013. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-30/putin-signs-law-banning-gay-propaganda-among-children.html

 

[5] David Nakamura. “Obama Meets with Gay Rights Activists in Russia”, The Washington Post. 6 September 2013.

 

[6] Ibid.

 

[7] “Threatening the rights of LGBT persons in Eastern Europe” United Nations Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights. 14 August 2013. http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/RightsOfLGBTPersonsInEasternEurope.aspx

 

[8] Ellen Berry. “Officials Say Homophobia Motivated Murder in Russia”, The New York Times. 12 May 2013. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/13/world/europe/homophobia-linked-to-murder-in-russia.html?_r=0