Quote:
Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate
Again, how many teens kill themselves because they are ashamed of being gay?
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Good question. Can you actually answer it?
And for the matter, I understand what you are saying here. Gay teens feel bullied, they commit suicides, so society needs to be something, let's say gay parade, to let them know that they are welcome and all. Even though I couldn't find any data about russian gay teens suicides. I hear you nonetheless.
Still questions remains:
1. Under russian laws, if you bullied another person into suicide, you go to jail. Even if suicide attempt fail and the teen is still alive. This law applies from the age of 16. Maybe we should change it to 14 to help the issue, as serious crimes, such as murder and rape apply at 14. This
law PARTICULARLY singles out "bullying" as one of the reasons of suicide that will get you into jail. I dunno about american laws, but if you have such law and actually apply it, maybe it will help things out?
2. Why are you trying so hard to sell it as violation of human rights? I realize, that you need to raise awareness and all but if you cry a violation of human rights where there isn't one it will not make you any better. Why don't you sell it for what it is — a campaign against teen suicide? Don't you understand that if you tell russians, that they are violating human rights, they will tell you to **** off. However, if you tell them that they need to do something about teens suicide, you are far more likely to get a positive response? If you care about gay teens, which is better approach to convince russians to do something about it? Just because gay parades could possibly help gay teens, it doesn't make it their human right. Specially considering that hetero teens, who bullied them into suicide should go to jail. If there is a problem here, we need to focus on making this law work better insread of doing things like gay parades. When I was a teen, I was bullied because of my jewish last name classmates and teachers considered me jewish. I really was harassed because of it, albeit not into suicide. If there would be some sort of jewish parade, I would feel better, but it doesn't mean that it is my human right to demand such. If I was bullied into suicide, my parents would demand teachers and 16+ old classmates to go to jail and they would get it.
3. Why are you going for LGBT issues? Why don't you campaign against drunk driving or something? Drunk driving takes away way more lives, than teen bullying. And there are many other issues in the world, why don't you suggest to wear red cross patches, unicef patches or something?
4. Still — why Russia? Whatever you think of this law, it is obvious, that Russia is far from the worst anti-gay country in the world. You may argue that Russia is going "wrong direction" yet you do nothing against countries that are far further in that direction. I realize, that Olympics are in Russia, but nonetheless this issue is not the biggest issue in the world, not the biggest LGBT issue, and not the biggest Russian issue. It's really strange to use Olympics to protest over $150 fines law, which violations of human rights are very very debatable, specially considering death penalties for being gays in some other countries.