Few happy returns to Putin the president.

Putin

You've been freaking out against people who used the word "gay" in a relatively innocent manner to state their disapproval and you start singing happy birthday to the Russian President?

You're such a clown.

I fail to see how the two are connected or why you, a self-proclaimed conservative who has never given any thought to minority rights, suddenly cares about gay people.

I'll put it in a way you can understand. Vladimir Putin has made it illegal in Russia for people to even talk about being gay, the latest in a long line of human rights violations there against homosexuals. You are a solid supporter of gay rights. How can you still support Vladimir Putin?

The two are connected because Russia's treatment of the LGBTQ* community has been pretty bad, especially recently.

You are woefully misinformed. But what else are we to expect? You are about fastidious in your study of Russian affairs as Boris Yeltsin was committed to sobriety.

Talking about being gay is not illegal and Putin is not responsible for the unanimously approved law with respect to information pertaining to minors. Even if he vetoed the law, it would have been overridden.

I'm a bisexual person and a self-proclaimed socialist? Do you like me better, Putin?

I think the current oppression of LGBT people by the Russian authorities is an outrage. I challenge you to defend it.

Yeah, I'm sure the Duma passes laws Vladimir Putin disapproves of all the time. He is just a fuzzy, cuddly democrat, after all, and has deep respect for constitutional niceties. I'll ask again.

Vladimir Putin has made it illegal in Russia for people to even talk about being gay, the latest in a long line of human rights violations there against homosexuals. You are a solid supporter of gay rights. How can you still support Vladimir Putin?

It is not illegal to be LGBTQ nor is it even legal to discriminate against them on the basis of employment or pay. The hysteria about this law is much ado about the need to deflect attention away from the Anglo-Atlantic arming of Syrian jihadist cannibals (how friendly are they to gay rights, I wonder? Or US/UK's Saudi friends?)

This is all just a gimmick to attack Russia because Russia has an independent foreign policy.

Wow. Looks like Putin33's support of Vladimir Putin is more important to him than his support for gay rights. But why should he start making sense now?

Sorry Putin33 I'd love to support you but if you're that deluded about the situation it's pointless trying to discuss the facts with you.

Wow.

Just because it's not illegal to be gay does not mean Russia is not persecuting gays.

"Yeah, I'm sure the Duma passes laws Vladimir Putin disapproves of all the time. He is just a fuzzy, cuddly democrat, after all, and has deep respect for constitutional niceties."

All the time? No. But nor does a legislature overturn vetoes anywhere in the world. But it does happen. As usual you have selective disapproval for Russia, because you're filled with hate.

Me full of hate? I'm not the one wishing happy birthday to homophobic autocrats.

"Sorry Putin33 I'd love to support you but if you're that deluded about the situation it's pointless trying to discuss the facts with you.

Wow."

Wow, indeed. Another leftist falls for Anglo-American manipulation of the gay rights issue to attack Russia. Just like they do the same with Israel vis-a-vis the Arab countries (I'm sure you withdraw any solidarity with the Arab resistance because they don't hold British views on gay rights, right?). Nevermind that they're arming people, occupying people, and fuelling devastating civil wars, let's boycott the Sochi Olympics and ignore the London Olympics.

Taking bets on what Putin does celebrate his 61st. I'm thinking bare knuckle box a grizzly

Invictus has the audacity to call Putin a homophobe while being a card carrying member of the FUCKING REPUBLICAN PARTY. Take a hike.

@ Putin33: "Never mind that they're arming people, occupying people, and fuelling devastating civil wars"

I mind a great deal about that, actually. I am strongly opposed to the British government's stance in terms of Syria. Glad I was able to clarify that for you.

Now justify Russia's persecution of homosexuals.

Putin - tell us again how, as an educator, you openly confess to hating children and students, and thinking the students are the problem with the education system. Tell us again how you give children passing grades they haven't earned in order to shove them through the system and get them out of your hair.

You have the moral integrity of a dung beetle, and the intellectual capacity of said beetle shit ball.

You have no standing to comment on *anybody*.

I don't have a card. For what it's worth, I'm fine with the government recognizing gay marriage so long as churches don't have to and aren't persecuted for not doing so.

That wasn't about you. It was about the celebrity campaign to boycott the Sochi Olympics by the very same "leftists" who publicly celebrated the London Olympics.

And I ask again, do you withdraw any solidarity whatsoever with Arab groups that don't share your views about gay rights?

"On one hand they take away their freedom to identify as gay in public, on the other hand the good president does release shirtless horseback photos, its seen as a fair trade off in the Russian community"

"For what it's worth, I'm fine with the government recognizing gay marriage so long as churches don't have to and aren't persecuted for not doing so."

It's not worth shit. You vote for and support the Republican Party, which is nothing but a den of anti-gay activists. So the notion of you calling anybody a homophobe is fucking rich. You obviously don't give a damn about gay rights because you're willing to overlook the past 30+ years of demonizing them that has been done in your party, so much so that gay Republicans can't even attend CPAC.

We're talking about Russia.

You're calling a man a homophobe while happily associating and supporting the Republican Party. You're a joke.

It doesn't matter what I say, what matters is what's true. As Jamietuk99 said, justify Russia's persecution of homosexuals.

The fact that the Republican party has a poor record on gay rights does not demonstrate that Vladimir Putin is not a homophobe.

I'm not defending the Republicans, they disgust me. Putin's attack on LGBT people disgusts me too.

He can't do that, Invictus, so instead he's coming up with reasons why we're not allowed to criticise his hero.

"We're talking about Russia."

Right, because you only discover that gays are human beings when it's convenient for hating Russia. Otherwise, you back the party of Rick Santorum and Michelle Bachman, and the give a wink, wink, nod, nod, to the gay haters who rule your party. This is the most shameless display of hypocrisy I've ever witnessed from you, and that's saying something.