In the wake of Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent decisions to sign laws banning "gay Propaganda", as well as adoption of Russian children by same-sex couples, openly-gay actor, playwright, and Kinky Boots scribe Harvey Fierstein has written an op-ed for the New York Times. In it, he decries Putin's "campaign against lesbian, gay and bisexual people."
"Historically [fear-based] scapegoating is used by politicians to solidify their bases and draw attention away from their failing policies, and no doubt this is what's happening in Russia… Mr. Putin's campaign against lesbian, gay and bisexual people is one of distraction, a strategy of demonizing a minority for political gain taken straight from the Nazi playbook. Can we allow this war against human rights to go unanswered?"
You can read the entire op-ed piece HERE.