Sportlight on Russia and LGBT Rights – Rainbow Ice Cream

Latest TV Presenter, Andrew Kay, looks into LGBT issues in Russia. This time, a Russian ice cream maker has been accused of promoting homosexuality after using a rainbow on its packaging. The head of Russia’s official Union of Women said the image amounted to “propaganda” for gay and lesbian relations in a video conference with President Vladimir Putin. Homosexuality was decriminalised in Russia in 1993, but those deemed to be promoting “homosexual behaviour among minors” face fines of up to 500,000 roubles ($7,000). “They’re quietly promoting these nice rainbow colours, using nice words, they’re advertising an ice cream called Rainbow,” Yekaterina Lakhova, who is also a former MP, told the Russian president. This, Ms Lakhova added, could potentially make Russian children more accepting of the rainbow flag used by the LGBTQ community.