Putin 'not prejudiced' – he has gay friends and likes Elton John
Russian president attempts to appease Western media over new laws against gay propaganda
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eUTzq4unFm2326HTYsLoEN-415-80.jpg)
VLADIMIR PUTIN has claimed that he is "not prejudiced in any way", praising Elton John and insisting he has gay friends.
The Russian president has faced criticism over the country's new laws against gay propaganda, with calls from some critics to boycott next month's Sochi Winter Games.
In a charm offensive, Putin spoke to Western reporters attempting to assure them that Russian laws present "no danger" to gay people.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"I would like to draw your attention to the fact that in Russia, unlike in one third of the world's countries, being gay is not a crime. So there is no danger for people of this non-traditional sexual orientation to come to the Games," he said.
Putin tried to insist that the new law is not discriminatory and is "only" about restricting the "propaganda of paedophilia and homosexuality" among children. He described Elton John as an "extraordinary person, a distinguished musician" and said that "millions of our people sincerely love him, despite his sexual orientation".
Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr show, he added: "If you want my personal attitude, I would tell you that I don't care about a person's sexual orientation. I myself know some people who are gay – we are on friendly terms. I am not prejudiced in any way."
Perhaps the interpreters misheard, suggests the Daily Telegraph, as on Friday Putin was seen telling gay people to "leave the children alone".
In The Guardian, Barbara Ellen describes Putin's words as "simultaneously offensive, ridiculous and manipulative". Attacking gay "propaganda" rather than actual gayness is "a reeking red herring", she says, and "just as insidious was Putin's oh-so-casual linking of homosexuality to paedophilia, as if it were perfectly reasonable to bracket them".
Putin's instinctive link between homosexuality and paedophilia is an "old chestnut", says Libby Purves in The Times, and "a moment's reflection shows how unfair it is".
She points to statistics that suggest the most enthusiastic predators on children are "hetero all the way" and highlights countries in which underage girls are forced to marry to middle-aged men.
The Telegraph speaks to one of the first people to fall foul of Russia's new law. Dmitry Isakov was convicted, fined and lost his job after standing in a street with a placard calling for freedom for the gays and lesbians of Russia. He sheds light on the real implications of the legislation. "It sends a signal that says gays are people you can fine, who you can insult, who you can maybe even beat up," he says.
And the right to fight against such discrimination is also banned. "It effectively strips gays of the right to fight back against discrimination with public protest," says Isakov, "a right which any minority should have – it is very likely to lead to attitudes becoming even more hard line."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why is China stockpiling resources?
The Explainer The superpower has been amassing huge reserves of commodities at great cost despite its economic downturn
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Paraguay's dangerous dalliance with cryptocurrency
Under The Radar Overheating Paraguayans are pushing back over power outages caused by illegal miners
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The Week contest: Tattoo prediction
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
'Spare us the charade'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The Tamils stranded on 'secretive' British island in Indian Ocean
Under the Radar Migrants 'unlawfully detained' since 2021 shipwreck on UK-controlled Diego Garcia, site of important US military base
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Britain's Labour Party wins in a landslide
Speed Read The Conservatives were unseated after 14 years of rule
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Orbán in Kyiv: will visit from Putin ally help Zelenskyy and Ukraine?
Today's Big Question Hungarian PM's surprise visit focuses on 'possibilities of achieving peace' ahead of six-month EU presidency that can shape bloc's agenda
By The Week UK Published
-
'Making compensation more competitive with civilian careers is crucial'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Russia and North Korea sign mutual defense pact
Speed Read Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un pledged assistance if either country faced foreign "aggression"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Putin in Pyongyang: a return to the Cold War days?
Today's Big Question Isolation and anti-Western agenda pushes dictators into deepening military alliance that 'undermines the security of Europe, Asia and the US'
By Elliott Goat, The Week UK Published