Frommer Condemns Russia's Anti-Gay Law; Warns Gays Against Travel to Russia

One of the icons of travel tour guides is Frommer, headed up by Arthur Frommer.  In reaction to Russia's anti-gay laws, Frommer has condemned Russia's new state backed homophobia and warned gays from traveling to Russia altogether.  And, as Frommer points out, Russia's anti-gay laws could also lead to the arrest of non-gay Americans who voice support for gay rights.  A complete tourism boycott by right minded people who oppose a Nazi like scapegoating of an entire minority should arise from right minded people.  Here are excerpts from Frommer's blog:

[T]he recent enactment by Russia of legislation limiting free speech, seems important to me--and of  especial relevance to travel and tourism.  Russian President Vladimir Putin signed both laws last month, and already a group of Dutch film-makers traveling within Russia (to make a film about sexual orientation in that country) have been prosecuted under one of the two statutes.  Apart from their application to tourists, the laws seem to threaten athletes planning to attend the upcoming Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia..

One of the laws prohibits "pro-homosexual propaganda".  The other prohibits verbal attacks on religion or on the believers in religion.  Although the anti-gay-propaganda law states that it covers only propaganda directed to minors, it has already been made clear that persons will be prosecuted if a minor is in the audience of people to whom that "propaganda" is directed, even though the young persons were not the intended recipient of the "propaganda".

[E]ven expressions of affection between two homosexuals traveling in Russia would fall within the forbidden activity and lead to prosecution.

Several gay authors of Frommer travel guides have already informed me that they will no longer risk travel to Russia as long as the "pro-gay propaganda" statute is in effect.  Some among them are calling for a broader boycott of all travel to Russia by all Americans, gay or not, as a protest against this denial of human rights. They refer not only to the new legislation, but to several recent incidents of physical assaults by prejudiced young Russians against gay persons, none of which seemed to interest Russian police.

 

Prejudice against other Americans because of their sexual orientation is un-American and should be condemned.  And when such prejudice prevents Americans from traveling without fear in another country, that prejudice should also be condemned, and appropriate action taken by persons in travel and tourism.

 

If the Olympic Games are in fact held in Sochi, I hope tourists from progressive countries - other than Christofascists who are reveling in Russia's persecution of gays - will opt to not attend.   What has happened in Russia gives a glimpse of what the Christofascists seek to bring to America.