Putin defends anti-gay laws as bastion of global conservatism (against 'so-called tolerance')

[pampango]

Vladimir Putin arrives to deliver his annual speech to the Russian federal assembly.

President says Russia stands on international stage in defence of traditional values against 'fruitless so-called tolerance'

Vladimir Putin has defended Russia's anti-gay laws in his annual address to both chambers of the Russian parliament.

In an apparent reference to the laws banning "propaganda of non-traditional relations", the Russian president said that on the international arena Russia sees itself as a defender of conservative values against what it considers an assault of "genderless and fruitless so-called tolerance" which he said "equals good and evil".

In a typically wide-ranging speech, Putin portrayed Russia as a force for peace and morality that had no desire to be a global superpower.

Putin said he was counting on Ukraine to find a political solution to its crisis over President Viktor Yanukovych's decision to spurn a free-trade agreement with the European Union in favour of closer economic ties with Moscow.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/12/vladimir-putin-defends-russia-anti-gay-conservatism

Putin is certainly not subtle in his anti-gay rhetoric and actions. He sees himself as a "defender of conservative values" against "fruitless so-called tolerance". In the US it is hard to imagine those worlds coming from anyone besides a very conservative fundamentalist.