Putin: Russians aren't homophobic because we love Elton Joh

[mr friendly guy]

Variation of the I have <insert minority group> friends so I am not bigoted

Vladimir Putin defends Russia's stance on homosexuals, hails Elton John, after calls to boycott Sochi Winter Olympics

Russian president Vladimir Putin has defended his country's position on homosexuality, saying Russians love British musician Elton John "despite his orientation".

His comments follow calls for a boycott of next month's Winter Olympics in Sochi over legislation which makes it a crime to provide information about homosexuality to anyone under the age of 18.

Mr Putin says he is not prejudiced against gay people and he does not care about a person's sexual orientation.

"I myself know some people who are gay. We are on friendly terms," he told the BBC.

But Mr Putin says there is no danger for people of what he referred to as "non-traditional sexual orientation" in coming to the Winter Olympics as participants or spectators.

By way of example, he praised Sir Elton, who is openly gay, as "an outstanding person [and] outstanding musician".

"Millions of our people sincerely love him despite his orientation," Mr Putin said.

Sir Elton himself has spoken out against Russia's crackdown on so-called "gay propaganda".

"I am deeply saddened and shocked over the current legislation that is now in place against the [homosexual] community here in Russia," he said at a sold-out concert in Moscow last month.

In my opinion, it is inhumane and it is isolating. Harmony is what makes a happy family and a strong society."

The 66-year-old Briton has a long history of performances in Russia, beginning with a groundbreaking concert in 1979 that made him a household name in the then-Soviet Union.

He ignored calls to cancel his December concerts in the wake of the "gay propaganda" law, saying Russia's gays and lesbians would feel abandoned if big-name performers did not come for visits and offer them support.

Mr Putin says the law "does not offend anyone".

"People with non-traditional sexual orientation cannot feel like they are second-rate because they are in no way discriminated against: not professionally, not career-wise, not when it comes to recognition by society," he said.

Mr Putin has also downplayed planned no-shows at the Olympics by Western leaders including US president Barack Obama and French president Francois Hollande.

Well if racists saying I have black friends is considered a valid argument by some people, then I guess Putin most probably thinks he can hand wave away homophobia with this line.

[FaxModem1]

Guess he's not enjoying the international scrutiny this 'gay propaganda' law is giving them, and is trying to wave it away.

[Ralin]

So, does anyone who knows more about the guy have an opinion on whether Putin gives a fuck either way about gays past using them as a scapegoat to nationalists and religious people when convenient?

[Kitsune]

Isn't he almost a Stalin type?

[Thanas]

Isn't he almost a Stalin type?

Most stupid comment made this month. When Putin has millions of dead on his hands, then you can make this comment.

[Block]

Isn't he almost a Stalin type?

By all accounts he's basically an organized crime boss holding a position of supreme government power. People who are inconvenient do tend to vanish, but not nearly on the scale that Stalin ordered people purged.

[Kitsune]

Isn't he almost a Stalin type?

By all accounts he's basically an organized crime boss holding a position of supreme government power. People who are inconvenient do tend to vanish, but not nearly on the scale that Stalin ordered people purged.

How much of that is due to not having the real means? There are still some balances against him doing anything he wants.
Stalin always gives me the feel of an organized crime figure given practically unlimited power.

[mr friendly guy]

So, does anyone who knows more about the guy have an opinion on whether Putin gives a fuck either way about gays past using them as a scapegoat to nationalists and religious people when convenient?

Some articles I have read (don't have the link right now) pretty much suspect that Putin is using this anti gay law to get chummy with these groups.

[Gandalf]

How much of that is due to not having the real means? There are still some balances against him doing anything he wants.
Stalin always gives me the feel of an organized crime figure given practically unlimited power.

You'd best read more about Stalin.

[K. A. Pital]

Isn't he almost a Stalin type?

By all accounts he's basically an organized crime boss holding a position of supreme government power. People who are inconvenient do tend to vanish, but not nearly on the scale that Stalin ordered people purged.

How much of that is due to not having the real means? There are still some balances against him doing anything he wants.
Stalin always gives me the feel of an organized crime figure given practically unlimited power.

Stalin had way more power than Putin ever had or will have; he used this power for various goals and he was behind the Purges but also behind the USSR's victory in World War II. Absolute power of the like Putin will never have. He is more or less an arbiter figure for the Russian oligarchy. If you'd be picking a leader to compare him to, it's Turkey's Erdogan.

[TheFeniX]

Russian president Vladimir Putin has defended his country's position on homosexuality, saying Russians love British musician Elton John "despite his orientation".

::snip::

Mr Putin says he is not prejudiced against gay people and he does not care about a person's sexual orientation.

Is this a translation failure? Worded like that with the word "despite", it's pretty much impossible to even gloss over this as positive.

And no one in the South was racist! Why they called in minority musicians all the time!