Russian President Vladimir Putin mocked the US Embassy in Moscow on Friday, which hung a rainbow flag on its facade in late June, saying it " says something " to the people who work there.
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Responding during a videoconference to a member who pointed out to him that the embassy had hung this flag symbol of the LGBT movement (lesbians, gays, bis and trans) for " Pride month ", Vladimir Poutine asked " who works in this building ? " Let them celebrate. That says something about the people who work there , "he continued, according to comments broadcast on television.
The Russian president signed the constitutional amendments approved by the Russians during a national vote on Friday, including the institution of marriage as a union between a man and a woman, effectively prohibiting same-sex marriage.
" Let a person decide his own path "
Vladimir Putin however assured Friday that his country does not discriminate anybody according to its sexual orientation and assured that the law of 2013 prohibiting homosexual “ propaganda ” near the minors was simply intended to prevent that such relations are “ imposed ” on the children. “ Let a person grow up, become an adult and decide their own path for themselves. We shouldn't impose anything , "he said, adding that" those who attack us on this front are just trying to break an open door . "
Ekaterina Lakhova, a senator from the ruling party known for her conservative ideas, however, denounced the fact that the colors of the rainbow flag were used to sell ice cream. " It is indirect but it forces our children to get used to the colors, to the flag that everyone is waving, even on this embassy, " she said.
US Ambassador to Moscow John Sullivan said on Twitter on June 25 that " our embassy is displaying the rainbow flag in solidarity ", along with a video of the flag hanging on a building facade giving on a very busy artery in Moscow. The British Embassy also hoisted a rainbow flag.
Members of a conservative Orthodox group then protested outside the embassy, stepping on a rainbow flag. The flag, however, also became a symbol of support for the rights of sexual minorities, with many Muscovites taking selfies with the flag in the background.