A gay Montreal author has won a dispute with the La Capitale insurance company after cancelling a trip to Russia he booked before the country passed sweeping "anti-gay" laws.
Last week, K. David Brody received a $1,452.90 reimbursement after threatening legal action when the insurance company initially refused his claim.
Brody said he felt he had no choice but to cancel a trip to see his nephew, over fears for his safety because of changes to Russian law that impose harsh consequences for "promoting homosexuality."
Author K. David Brody said because he is a published author, Russia authorities could easily identify him as being gay. (http://www.mourningandcelebration.com/)
"I booked the trip in June and then I heard about the law in July," said Brody.
"I was really exposed to the risk of being arrested, or imprisoned, or deported. I've published a book and if anybody Googles my name, they're going to know it's a gay novel."
Brody says a La Capitale agent initially told him he would not be reimbursed because the federal government had only issued a caution — not an advisory — against travel to Russia.
The Government of Canada's travel advisory states that although homosexual activity is not illegal in Russia, the law prohibits public actions that "promote homosexuality" and “non-traditional sexual relations.”
The Centre for Research-Action on Race Relations (CRARR) took up Brody's cause, and the group was ready to argue in court that La Capitale was discriminating based on sexual orientation. more
Russia’s Anti-Gay Crackdown
By HARVEY FIERSTEIN
Published: July 21, 2013 278 Comments
RUSSIA’S president, Vladimir V. Putin, has declared war on homosexuals. So far, the world has mostly been silent.
On July 3, Mr. Putin signed a law banning the adoption of Russian-born children not only to gay couples but also to any couple or single parent living in any country where marriage equality exists in any form.
A few days earlier, just six months before Russia hosts the 2014 Winter Games, Mr. Putin signed a lawallowing police officers to arrest tourists and foreign nationals they suspect of being homosexual, lesbian or “pro-gay” and detain them for up to 14 days. Contrary to what the International Olympic Committee says, the law could mean that any Olympic athlete, trainer, reporter, family member or fan who is gay — or suspected of being gay, or just accused of being gay — can go to jail.
Earlier in June, Mr. Putin signed yet another antigay bill, classifying “homosexual propaganda” as pornography. The law is broad and vague, so that any teacher who tells students that homosexuality is not evil, any parents who tell their child that homosexuality is normal, or anyone who makes pro-gay statements deemed accessible to someone underage is now subject to arrest and fines. Even a judge, lawyer or lawmaker cannot publicly argue for tolerance without the threat of punishment.
Finally, it is rumored that Mr. Putin is about to sign an edict that would remove children from their own families if the parents are either gay or lesbian or suspected of being gay or lesbian. The police would have the authority to remove children from adoptive homes as well as from their own biological parents.
Not surprisingly, some gay and lesbian families are already beginning to plan their escapes from Russia.
Why is Mr. Putin so determined to criminalize homosexuality? He has defended his actions by saying that the Russian birthrate is diminishing and that Russian families as a whole are in danger of decline. That may be. But if that is truly his concern, he should be embracing gay and lesbian couples who, in my world, are breeding like proverbial bunnies. These days I rarely meet a gay couple who aren’t raising children. more
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