Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin
says there are “no prohibitions” against gay men and lesbians
serving in the Russian military.
The country's 57-year-year-old former
president made his remarks on CNN's Larry King Live.
When asked by King if gays could serve
openly in the Russian military, Putin answered “there are
no prohibitions.”
But before answering the question, the
Russian leader emphasized that the government had a greater
responsibility of protecting heterosexual couples because they
produce children.
“One gender marriages will not give
you offspring, therefore we are very patient to the sexual
minorities, but still we believe that the state should support the
processes having to do with the birth rate, mother and child care,
infancy, and take care of the health of those people.”
“In the Soviet Union, that was about
criminal responsibility for same gender sex,” he added. “No
there are no prohibitions or bans on that score.” (The video is
embedded in the right panel of this page.)
The Russian military ended its ban on
gay service in 2003.
Anti-gay sentiment in Russia, however,
remains widespread. A 2005 survey found that only 14 percent of the
population approves of gay marriage. Gay
pride parades in the nation's capital, Moscow, have been banned by
the government, and pro-gay demonstrations are quickly stamped out by
the police.