The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, has made a controversial statement that links gay people to pedophiles.
After giving new assurances to homosexual athletes that will participate in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, he has spoken out on his approval of anti-gay laws.
According to the Huffington Post, he made a statement saying that the European country needs to “cleanse” itself in order to increase the birth rate.
The site reports:
A Russian law passed last year banning “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations” among minors has caused an international outcry.
Putin refused to answer a question from the BBC on whether he believes that people are born gay or become gay. The Russian law, however, suggests that information about homosexuality can influence a child’s sexual orientation.
The law has contributed to growing animosity toward gays in Russian society, with rights activists reporting a rise in harassment and abuse.
Putin believes that homosexual people are more likely to abuse their children over a pedophile, which has caused a stir in the country.
The site continues:
When asked about this by the ABC TV channel, Putin said protests against the law itself would not be considered propaganda.
Putin then hit back, accusing the United States of double standards in its criticism of Russia, pointing to laws that remain on the books in some U.S. states classifying gay sex as a crime. The U.S. Supreme Court, however, ruled in 2003 that such laws were unconstitutional.
SMH!
SOURCE: The Huffington Post | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty
