World champion pole vaulter defends Russian laws on homosexuality

Russian world champion pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva has come out in defence of her country's law which makes it illegal to give information about homosexuality to under-18s.

There have been calls, most notably from Stephen Fry, that the winter Olympics should not be held next year in Russia.

The two-time Olympic gold winner said: "Everyone can participate, everyone can compete, but of course if they will promote sexual relations outside in the street it won't be respectable for a lot of our citizens because we are all, from inside of us, against it.

"We are against publicity but we are not of course about every choice of every single person. It's their life, it's their choice, it's their feelings, but we're just against the publicity in our country and I support that.
 

"We are Russians. Maybe we are different than European people, than other people from different lands. We have our law which everyone has to respect. It's my opinion also."

Read the BBC story >

Plight of Christians

Influential Christian blogger Cranmer has drawn attention to the media bias on this issue by highlighting the plight of persecuted Christians in countries such as Egypt.

In a blog entitled "Christians are being slaughtered all over the world: who is their Stephen Fry?", he says: "Indeed, the Copts in Egypt, who make up around 10 per cent of the population, have it an awful lot worse than gays in Russia.

"But there is no rolling coverage of their plight by the BBC: their persecution and murder is only mentioned in passing.

"No marches are staged in London; there is no damning comment by David Cameron or President Obama, and the world is largely silent as their churches are torched and congregations slaughtered."

Read the full blog >