In an age where many western societies are becoming more accepting of tattoo culture and homosexuals in the military, there are still some that are trying to crack down on both. A Daily Mail article reveals some new guidelines that the Russian military will be using to identify gay military recruits. These guidelines, from a 2005 psychology textbook, includes tattoos near the face, genitals, and buttocks as signs of possible homosexual behavior. Such accusations or confirmation can disqualify recruits.
Ever since the fall of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, there are still those in the Kremlin that oppose Western culture and ways of thinking. Reportedly a third of Russians view homosexuality as a mental disorder. Also, tattoos can be signs of bad decision making and/or a deviant lifestyle. Russian law also prohibits demonstrations supporting gay rights.
One has to wonder if this opposition to gay and tattoo culture is a an ideal of morality, or if it is a product of lingering "Anti-Western" sentiment. Many see these new bills as a way of returning to .Russian conservatism against the encroachment of Western liberalism. It will remain to be seen when and if these views will change.
Comments