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# real family
Putin's party launches a 'flag for straights’ to combat 'gay fever'
Because Russia.
THE MOSCOW CITY branch of Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party has caused controversy by launching a “flag for straights”.
Homosexuality is not illegal in Russia, but a law was introduced in 2013 that bans gay “propaganda” that promotes “non-traditional sexual relations” among minors.
According to Russia Today, the flag was launched in response to the rainbow flag used by the LGBT movement. It was unveiled at a rally in Moscow to celebrate the country’s Day of Family, Love and Fidelity.
The flag features a picture of a mother, father and three children – on blue, red or white (the colours of the Russian national flag). It also includes a hashtag that says ‘Real Family’ in Russian.
Aleksey Lisovenko, deputy head of United Russia in Moscow, told national newspaper Izvestia:
This is our answer to same-sex marriages, this mockery of the very concept of family. We must prevent gay fever in our country and support traditional values.
The flag is very similar to one designed by Manif Pour Tous, a French organisation opposed to same-sex marriage.
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