"Stop them", "sweep the house clean of them", "return Clause 121[1]". These phrases became common amongst the politicians who supported Oleg Mitvol, Prefect of Moscow’s Northern District, in his calls to shut down gay clubs.
"News of the Federation" surveyed the senators and politicians to clarify their standing on the matter.
Valentina Petrenko, chairman of the Social Policies and Health Care Committee of the Federation Council, representative of the Republic of Hakassia’s government in the Federation Council.
‘There is no ban on the membership clubs. However there are different kinds of memberships. If we find out that minors have been involved or that the members of the clubs openly demonstrated their way of life that is not accepted by the majority of our people, then we can start talking about violation of the law and initiate a club’s closure.’
Amir Gillyamov, member of the Justice and Court Affairs Committee of the Federation Council, representative of the Amur Region’s Legislative Assembly in the Federation Council.
‘There must not be any gay clubs in Russia! Furthermore I support the return of the Clause 121 to prosecute sodomy’.
Sergey Lisovskiy, vice-chairman of the Agrarian and Food Supply Policies Committee of the Federation Council, representative of the Kurgan Regional Duma in the Federation Council.
‘If we do not stop them [gay men], then soon a normal educated white man will become a sexual minority.’
Mikhail Kapura, vice-chairman of the Justice and Court Affairs Committee of the Federation Council, representative of the government of the Republic of Kalmykia in the Federation Council.
‘If some people wish to get together and spend their pastime in a certain way, then it shouldn’t cause any discomfort to the people with different opinions. And if this matter causes them discomfort, then of course this matter has to be resolved. Likewise putting the return of the Clause 121 on the political agenda is irrelevant in the 21st century. Firstly bans are not helpful. And then why should we hand another tool into the hands of the corrupt law enforcement officials who will undoubtedly use it to cash in.’
Gajimet Safaraliev, vice-chairman of the Education Committee of the State Dume, "United Russia" Party.
‘I agree with the Prefect’s proposal. It is time to shut down the night clubs that cause disturbance and become bad influence on young people. All the western influences that regard homosexuality, same sex marriages included, are the beginning of the end. It’s just like the religious sects whose activities spread a destructive influence within society. For these reasons, Mitvol’s proposal is undoubtedly relevant.
Valery Bogomolov, member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the State Duma, "United Russia" Party.
‘I totally share the Prefect’s outrage and his desire to get the capital rid of this source of moral decay and perversion. Gay clubs should have been banned even before the casinos! Russia needs healthy descendants!’
Yekaterina Lakhova, vice-chairman of the Labour and Social Policies Committee of the State Duma, "United Russia" Party.
‘I agree with Mitvol’s proposal. I don’t want my children and grandchildren to degrade and morally decay. Presence of sexual minorities brings a negative influence on society.’
Viktor Shudegov, vice-chairman of the Education Committee of the State Duna, "Just Russia" Party.
‘I totally agree with Mitvol’s initiative because we need to establish propaganda of a healthy life style, not same-sex marriages. Russian young people must never visit such dubious establishments as gay clubs.’
[1] ‘Clause 121’ of the USSR Criminal Code defined homosexual intercourse as a criminal offence punishable by a prison sentence. See history for more.