I chose to pick Boston Edge - one of the least hysterical - as they might know a bit about the need for security at a high-profile sporting event.
Lest some suicide bombers turn up and kill people like at the last Boston Marathon.
A few brief points...
1. Pavel Lebedev was detained. So far he has not been arrested or charged.
2. This account from GayRussia.eu, citing his fellow activists, said he didn't just unveil a rainbow flag; "Lebedev ran before torchbearer with rainbow flag".
3. He would have been stopped by security for doing something similar - gay or not - at any public event.
4. For example, 37 people were arrested protesting the London Olympic Torch Relay in 2008.
5. During the 2012 UK Olympic Torch Relay at least two people were detained for protesting, and two arrested. In Derry, the route had to be diverted after scuffles with the police. Does this make the UK a fascist state?
6. I seriously doubt the Russian security would have any idea what his rainbow flag represented, so this may not be a gay thing.
7. They may have had other security concerns on their minds as at least 39 people were killed in suicide bombings last month, and seven people died in a shoot-out with suspected Islamic terrorists on Wednesday. Just a thought.
I applaud Pavel Lebedev and all Russian gay campaigners, but - as ever - can non-Russian gayers get some perspective on this?
Posts
