Behind the Pink Curtains

In the lands that once laid behind the Iron Curtain, there are some not so pleasant acts in government.

Gay rights, gay scares.

Polish government investigating whether Tinky Winky is gay (not joking)

It's time the European Union started getting tough with Eastern European overnments that aren't ready for prime time. If they want to rejoin the civilized world, they should start acting like it. This is just embarrassing for Poland, and it's sad that the country hasn't learned from its experiences with the Nazis or the Soviets; the dehumanization of your citizens is a bad thing. It's also a harbinger of the problems European integration faces when some of those wanting to integrate don't live in the same century as the rest of us. Will the EU water down its commitment to civil rights and human rights to appease the lowest common denominator of hate and backwardness in its midst? If Poland isn't ready and willing to join the modern era, it shouldn't be permitted to.

It really seems it is time for these new comers to the EU to stand up themselves, and grow the fuck up.

After all they have been through and done to move passed the Soviet days, this sad look inside worries me.

It's nice to see that the hate and bile of now-dead bigot Jerry Falwell lives on. And actually, I'll bet that the Poles learned the news of Tinky Winky's homosexuality from the increasing evangelizing religious right extremists are doing in the former Eastern bloc. These countries have no idea who they're dealing with, and thus accept the religious right's hate wrapped in God at carte blanche. Well, it's now biting them in the ass.

So, it is so nice of American Evangelicals to get out in the world. They are doing so much to help the world with this garbage. Thankfully they are also helping to scare men from using protection during sex, and giving out all sorts of bad advice about medicine. Finally, Protestants and Catholics acting together to act for Christ.

Thanks guys!

In Russia:
Moscow police sit by as far-right extremists violently attack European members of parliament at gay pride rally

This is what Russia is becoming again - or still is - as George Bush and Condi Rice sit idly by. Eastern Europe, from Moscow to Warsaw, is still struggling to understand freedom and democracy, and not doing so well it would seem, as we ignore them. Rather than rely on the reports of gay advocates present at the event, let's read what the independent mainstream media had to say - it's hideous.

...

Yes, the police sat by while European members of parliament were violently attacked. The police then proceeded to arrest the members of parliament and others who were victims of the violence.

...

Alekeyev and two other organizers of the march - dubbed the “Moscow Gay
Pride Three” were detained overnight Sunday awaiting a court hearing and sources
close to them told UK Gay News that they feared he may be sent to prison: "We
really fear that Nikolai Alekseev will be sent to prison for 15 days as the
'figurehead' of the Gay Pride organising team...Unofficially, we received
confirmation that this is what the General Prosecutor already asked. We are not
very optimistic about the result of the court hearing. We can say that all three
have been provided with legal assistance."

The sources allege: "[It is] becoming very clear that orders are being
given to court and militia directly from [the] Kremlin."

So, the attackers get a light treatment, but the gay rights advocates get cracked down on. Nice.

It seems pretty clear who the police and government sees as the enemy and problem in Russia.