May 15, 2010
To Belarus with Love
Today, as I sipped a cup of coffee to nurse away the consequences of enjoying a late night out at my favorite gay bar, I watched acts of civil disobedience and a fight for gay rights unfold in Belarus.
Belarus decriminalized homosexuality, but homophobia and inequality are still rampant. Blogger Joe Jervis posted news on Friday that a planned gay pride parade in Belarus would take place today despite a government ban. He followed up his post today with video and photos of the events. There’s a moment in the video that … well, just watch.
Belarus, a former constituent of the USSR, is a republic in name only according to the CIA Factbook. The CIA site notes, “Government restrictions on freedom of speech and the press, peaceful assembly, and religion remain in place.”
That, children, is what a dictatorship looks like.
On the Net:
