Hillary Clinton and Homophobia in Russia

categories: International Gay Rights, LGBT History, Obama Administration and Gay Rights

Published October 12, 2009 @ 07:59PM PT

Hillary Clinton

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is scheduled to commemorate the establishment of a monument in Russia memorializing American poet Walt Whitman. That's a pretty ironic news blip, because Walt Whitman was gay. And when it comes to the gays, the Russian government has a track record that's as oppressive as it gets.

The purpose of Clinton's trip goes far beyond just a monument dedication. She'll be meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to discuss a wide range of issues, from a nuclear Iran to climate change. But her stop at Moscow State University to dedicate the Walt Whitman monument is beyond curious. Adding more intrigue is the fact that she'll be joined at the Whitman dedication by the Mayor of Moscow, Yuri Luzkhov. Mayor Luzkhov has become famous in recent years for banning demonstrations by LGBT rights activists in Moscow, threatening violence toward demonstrators.

Luzkhov has also dropped such rhetorical bombshells as calling gay pride a "Satanic gathering," and saying that gay people are "weapons of mass destruction." Mayor Luzkhov has also blamed gay people for HIV/AIDS, and has said that condoms are silly. So the fact that Mayor Luzkhov will be dedicating a monument to gay poet Walt Whitman is pretty damn weird. It would be like John Ashcroft dedicating a monument to naked breasts, or Glenn Beck dedicating a statue of Van Jones.

But weirdness aside, this might be an excellent opportunity for Secretary of State Clinton to practice a little quiet diplomacy and nudge Russia on the issue of LGBT rights. This past September 11, Clinton herself said that the U.S. must condemn global violence toward LGBT people.

"(We) must condemn violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In country after country after country, young men and women are persecuted, are singled out, even murdered in cold blood, because of who they love or just based on claims that they are gay," said Clinton.

What better place to start condemning global homophobia than in Russia, at a dedication of one of America's biggest gay historical figures?

(Photo courtesy of U.S. State Department.)

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Comments (8)

It's good that Hillary Clinton will travel to Russia to be there at the dedication for the Walt Whitman statue. It's very unusual that Luzkhov will be at the statue dedication when the he is homophobic. Most likely, Luzkhov will be there only to get a gain in public relations. However, it's also good that Hillary Clinton has stated that violence on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is unjustified. Hopefully, Russia will improve on LGBT rights.

Posted by Edwin Bonilla on 10/13/2009 @ 03:47PM PT
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A gay person needs to be honored. I hope it will end homophobia in Russia.

Posted by Martin Martinez on 10/13/2009 @ 04:46PM PT
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You know, I literally worked my ASS off to get Mr. Obama through the primaries (I leterally lost 10 pounds, and have since put it back on.) And this woman, bless her, has shoved his ASS to the curb as it pertains to the rights of the LGBT community.

Please Mr. President, please tell me I didn't make the wrong decision!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Dave Hershey on 10/14/2009 @ 12:32AM PT
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I voted for miss clinton in the democratic primaries and later when obama got the nomination, I voted for him...

Maybe I should have gone the other way ?

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/14/2009 @ 07:10PM PT
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Im glad that secretary clinton is defending gay rights in russia BUT Im still of the opinion that we should be dealing with our own shit before getting involved with the cleaning up of other's crap.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/14/2009 @ 07:12PM PT
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She didn't!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2009/10/15/russian-gays-disappointed-with-hillary-clinton/

Posted by Dave Hershey on 10/15/2009 @ 03:39PM PT
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Thanks mr. hershey for that sad bit of news...

Well...Ive been wrong about politicians before...

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/17/2009 @ 10:53AM PT
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You're not the only one :(

Posted by Dave Hershey on 10/18/2009 @ 03:43AM PT
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Michael is the Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, and previously was Communications Director for Pax Christi USA, a progressive Catholic human rights organization.