Belarus Strongman Lukashenko: A Childish Dictator Prone To Schoolyard Taunts

The formerly Cummunist Belorussian strongman Alexander Lukashenko has always been a uniquely childish presence on the world stage -- he is, for example, the only European leader who enjoys being called "daddy" by his subjects -- but never moreso than this weekend. Responding to a recent EU censure, in which Lukashenko was referred to as a "dictator" by German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, Lukashenko told a crowd gathered at a ski event in Minsk: "Better a dictator than gay."

It wasn't the first time Lukashenko had gone after Westerwelle. From Raw Story:

Lukashenko last year said he had once told Westerwelle, who is openly gay, during a meeting that “he must lead a normal life”.

He later apologised for his remarks but added that he “did not like gays.”

The 57-year-old former collective farm boss — once identified as Europe’s last dictator by Washington — has left his ex-Soviet nation in growing diplomatic isolation over his nearly 18-year rule.

Recent months have seen a withdrawal of Belarussian representatives from EU states and European ambassadors booted from Minsk, the Belarussian capital, in protest over EU sanctions against the formerly Soviet "republic."

 

European Parliament Condemns LGBT Censorship in Russia: VIDEO

The European Parliament today adopted a resolution condemning a recent bill passed on its second reading in St. Petersburg and under consideration in Moscow and proposed federally in Russia that bans LGBT organizations, Gay Pride events and and so-called 'promotion' of homosexuality.

The Intergroup on LGBT Rights reports:

Presented by five political groups, the resolution recalls that Russia is subject to several international human rights agreements, including the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

With this text, the European Parliament “strongly condemns the adoption by the Legislative Assembly of St Petersburg of a law against propaganda on sexual orientation”, and “equally condemns similar laws adopted in the Ryazan, Arkhangelsk and Kostroma regions”.

The Parliament further “calls on all Russian authorities to stop restricting freedom of expression in relation to sexual orientation or gender identity”.

On Monday, MEP Michael Cashman ripped the bills in a floor speech.

Said Cashman, speaking on behalf of those against the legislation: "It's starting point is that homosexuality is wrong. What is wrong is the promotion of intolerance and discrimination, precisely what these repressive laws set out to achieve."

Watch Cashman blast the bill, AFTER THE JUMP...

EU Official to Raise Issue of Draconian Anti-Gay Legislation with Russian PM Vladimir Putin

Activist group AllOut delivered almost 250,000 signatures to the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton today, urging Russia to back down on proposed legislation that would ban any gay rights protests or marches and in its language compares homosexuality to pedophilia. Ashton promised to address the issue with PM Vladimir Putin.

The European Parliament's Intergroup on LGBT Rights reports:

Today, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton, the Presidents of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBT rights Michael Cashman and Ulrike Lunacek received more than 246,245 AllOut.org signatures from around the world urging them to support the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Russia.

Catherine Ashton assured to European Parliament Members that she would raise the issue directly with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

Michael Cashman and Ulrike Lunacek both declared in a release from Strasbourg, “We warmly welcome Catherine Ashton’s assurance that she will raise the issue directly with the Russian Prime Minister. The issue of equal rights for LGBT people and freedom of expression (as well as fair elections) is very dear to all Europeans - and Russians are Europeans too.”

“This is a great victory, because hundreds of thousands around the world joined AllOut.org to raise their voices.  Russian activists have been heard at the highest level of international community.”  Andre Banks, co-founder of AllOut.org said, “But we need to continue the fight, and stay mobilized with our friends in Russia until this homophobic bill is repealed.”

The Russian bill, currently pending in St. PEtersburg and Moscow, is now being pushed at the federal level by Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak.

Watch: 10 Centuries In 5 Minutes

History buffs will love this video "time lapse" of Europe and the endless border changes on that continent over the past 1,000 years.

Go back through time, AFTER THE JUMP.

Turkish Family Affairs Minister Aliye Selma Kavaf: Homosexuality a Disease, Gays Should Be Treated

 

A Turkish gay rights group is protesting remark's by the country's Family Affairs Minister, Aliye Selma Kavaf, that homosexuality is a biological disorder that should be treated, Deutsche Welle reports:

"The complaint, by the LAMBDA Association, charges that Kavaf's remarks in a newspaper interview were 'an insult, incitement to crime and incitement to enmity and hate' - crimes which, in Turkey, are punishable by up to five years in jail. Kavaf had said that she believed homosexuality was a 'biological disorder, a disease.' 'I think it should be treated,' she was quoted as saying. Kavaf 'should apologize to lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transvestites and transsexuals in this country for her discriminatory statements that turn homosexuals into a target,' said Ruzgar Gokce, a LAMBDA member, outside the Istanbul courthouse where the group filed its complaint. 'The only person who is sick, is the minister,' chanted dozens of gays and lesbians in front of the courthouse. Firat Soyle, a lawyer for LAMBDA, said the complaint was only symbolic since the minister enjoyed parliamentary immunity and would not face prosecution."

Kavaf has thus far refused to apologize, but her remarks have been denounced by parties, unions, and NGOs, DW reports.

Also: "The controversy will raise eyebrows in Brussels, where observers say there are growing questions about the sincerity of the Islamic government's commitment to implementing European Union membership requirements."

News: Russia, Kylie Minogue, Kindle, Chris Pine, Nebraska

Lesbians to apply for same-sex marriage license in Russia: "Public relations worker Irina Fyet, 31, and her partner of the same age will apply for a marriage license at a register office on May 12 in Moscow, a city where mayor Yuri Luzhkov once described gay pride marches as 'satanic.' Gay rights activist Nikolai Alekseyev said it was the first time a gay couple would apply for a license."

Meet Chanel, the world's oldest dog: "She always wears a sweater or T-shirt when she goes out, even in summer, because she tends to get chilled easily. Chanel also has cataracts and has to wear goggles with tinted lenses to protect her eyes when she goes out."

Pets who teabag.

Staley and Sullivan: Obama asleep at the wheel on HIV? "Their apparent resistance to anything pro-gay - delaying repeal of DADT indefinitely, freezing with fear on anything to do with civil unions or marriage - is beginning to make the Clintonites in the primaries seem prescient; and those of us in the gay movement who backed Obama seem like fools."

EU bans seal products.

Kylie Minogue to launch U.S. tour.

Levi's launches campaign for Hetrick-Martin Institute.

Arlen Specter misspeak: "There's still time for the Minnesota courts to do justice and declare Norm Coleman the winner."

Prop 8 The Musical wins Webby Award.

Amazon's newest Kindle: first impressions: "Three newspapers — The New York Times, Washington Post and the Boston Globe — will offer a reduced price on the Kindle in exchange for a long-term subscription. The Times and Globe will be offered starting this summer in areas where home delivery is not available. No prices of that promotion were released. Amazon emphasized that the Kindle will exchange personal documents, all without the user having to look for a wireless hot spot."

Tim Gunn goes to Capitol Hill.

Deb Price: David Souter proves a gay rights surprise. "Using his intellectual gifts and good heart, Souter helped produce a warming trend, enabling the court to begin moving away from four decades of icy treatment of gay men and lesbians. Thanks to Souter, the court turned a major corner in 1995, when a unanimous opinion that he wrote for the court finally used the respectful term 'gay.'"

Chris Pine: The new Captain Kirk goes for a shirtless stroll.

Kirks collide: Pine meets Shatner.

Openly gay North Carolina state senator Julia Boseman advances bullying bill: "The measure now goes to the House, which passed a similar bill last year, according to the Greensboro News & Record. 'This is solely to protect kids and keep them safe at school,' Boseman said, but social conservatives vowed to fight the bill because it specifically includes sexual orientation."

Beast: Why do Kanye West's fashion choices bring out the homophobes?

El Al launches tourism campaign for gay Europeans.

Viewers await gay storyline in Southland...

The new guard: Lincoln High School students in Iowa battle back against the Phelps clan. "More than 200 students gathered at the northeast corner of Lincoln High School's campus Tuesday afternoon to counter a protest by about a half-dozen anti-gay pickets from a controversial Kansas church. Zach Toillion, a Lincoln senior, used the social networking Web site Facebook to urge students to protest across from the pickets, who stood along Southwest Ninth Street. The students carried signs that read 'God loves all' and 'unity' and cheered at honking cars."

Bradley Cooper to play The Green Lantern?