Conference quark::human_relations-v1

255.0. "AP story on Soviet homosexuality." by GOJIRA::PHILPOTT (Ian F. ('The Colonel') Philpott) Wed Mar 25 1987 12:35

    I found this in AP news this morning: thought it might be an idea to
    post it here for discussion. (though Soap Box might be more appropriate?)
    
Associated Press Wed 25-MAR-1987 07:17                   Soviet-Homosexuality

25-MAR-87

               Paper Says Homosexuality Should Remain a Crime
                            By CAROL J. WILLIAMS
                          Associated Press Writer
   
    MOSCOW  (AP)  - Homosexuality is on the increase in the Soviet Union 
    and should continue to be treated as a crime to prevent  the  spread 
    of AIDS, a Communist newspaper said.
   
    Moskovsky  Komsomolets,  the official paper of the Communist Party's 
    Komsomol youth league, gave no estimate in its  article  Tuesday  of 
    the  number  of  homosexuals  but  said  higher  divorce  rates have 
    disturbed the process of children's sexual identification.
   
    It noted that homosexuality is listed as criminal  behavior  in  the 
    legal  codes of the 15 Soviet republics, and said the laws should be 
    retained.
   
    "If  there  is  freedom  for  homosexuality,  that  means  it  would 
    automatically spread," the newspaper said.  "It would be the same as 
    advertising it."
   
    The report on homosexuality was a rare  disclosure  for  the  Soviet 
    media   and  an  apparent  example  of  Kremlin  leader  Mikhail  S. 
    Gorbachev's policy of "glasnost,"  or  openness,  concerning  social 
    problems.
   
    However,   the  report  held  fast  to  traditional  Soviet  policy, 
    maintaining homosexuality  can  be  eradicated  with  education  and 
    upbringing.
   
    "The comparison will not please some people, but this can be treated 
    by the same methods as alcoholism is treated," the newspaper said.
   
    It warned that diseases are spread by homosexual contact,  including 
    AIDS,  or  acquired  immune  deficiency  syndrome.    AIDS, which is 
    epidemic among homosexuals in the  United  States,  is  caused  by a 
    virus that destroys the body's immune system.
   
    "Every  society  is  interested in harmonious development of normal, 
    healthy people, especially when such negative trends can  grow  into 
    an   epidemic,"   Moskovsky   Komsomolets  said.   "In  relation  to 
    homosexuality such a danger exists."
   
    The official Soviet media has reported only about a dozen AIDS cases 
    nationwide.   Recently, it was reported that a telephone hotline had 
    been established to answer questions about AIDS, and last  week  the 
    government  newspaper Izvestia reported blood donors would be tested 
    for the AIDS virus.
   
    The  Moskovsky  Komsomolets  article  quoted  a  sexual   psychology 
    specialist,   Vyacheslav   Maslov,  in  attributing  the  spread  of 
    homosexuality to the breakdown of the traditional family structure.
   
    Maslov discussed the case of a man who was reared by his mother  and 
    grandmother,  "dressed  like  a doll" and taught to act like a young 
    woman.
   
    "Such upbringing is not rare," Maslov told the newspaper. "There are 
    now  a  great  number  of  families  with  one  child, where all the 
    upbringing is done by women."
   
    He said a child's exposure to exclusively male or  female  authority 
    figures increases his risk of developing homosexual feelings.
   
    The  newspaper  also  printed  an anonymous letter from a homosexual 
    high school student who complained that "no one is willing to help." 
    The  boy  said  he  had  been  ostracized by his family and friends, 
    beaten by other students and ignored by teachers.
   
    The article said the problem should  be  addressed  more  openly  in 
    schools  and  by parents and that law enforcement agencies should be 
    more diligent in patrolling areas where homosexuals gather.

    Currently in the Russian Republic, criminal penalties can  range  up 
    to  five  for relations between consenting men and up to eight years 
    if force is involved.  However,  the  Moskovsky  Komsomolets article 
    says  enforcement  is difficult because of the "secret lives" led by 
    homosexuals.
    

    I think it's ridiculous, insulting, and reflects extraordinary naivete.

    re -1
    
    you probably feel that way because it *is* ridiculous, insulting,
    and reflecting extraordinary naivete.
    
    What are their laws about lesbianism?  Certainly lesbians do not
    spread diseases, so that could not be a consideration.
    
    The very idea that making homosexuality legal would create more
    homosexuals is so stupid as to almost be humorous!
    
               Carol

    Nope, Lesbians don't spread diseases, at least not the typical
    "sexually transmitted" ones.  The occurrence of STDs is EXTREMELY
    low among lesbians, and almost completely linked to having gotten
    it from a _male_ sexual partner.  From what I understand, if a woman
    has gonnorrhea (sp?!?), syphillis, or any other weird fungus, the
    likelihood of her female sex partner (no matter _how_ intimate they
    are or aren't) getting the disease from her is infinitessimal.
    
    I don't know if that is the  case with AIDS, but female homosexuals
    do not need to worry about getting STDs from other women.  Lucky
    them...
    
    Lee

The reason that lesbians don't spread disease (as much?) is because during
sex, there is usually quite a bit less exchange of body fluids compared to
homosexual or hetrosexual sex.

Jim

In case anyone was still wondering, lesbians are at the lowest risk
for having AIDS.  (This had lead people to make the crack: if AIDS is
god's way of condemning gay men, then it must also be god's way of
specifying lesbians as the chosen people.) 

Scientists also feel that many of the lesbians that have gotten AIDS
have also been IV-drug users (the second highest AIDS risk group). 

					--Gerry

    This is a subject that I, as a Lesbian, have thought of many times.
    
    You must have heard "The Chosen Ones".  Thank God and it makes me
    proud.
    
    Soviet Homosexuality?  I never thought about.  It reminds me of
    years gone by in America.  We are far more advanced today, but the
    Soviets sound like they're just beginning.
    
    To Better Days and Happy Endings, Nancy