Is it hypocritical for the U.S. to criticize Russia's homophobic law?

[TNF]

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Only if you support said restrictions in America.

[TDAS04]

Absolutely not.  Russia is far worse than the US on gay rights.  While the US is behind Canada, Sweden, Netherlands, and some other countries, there are several nations that are much worse.

Also, it is important to take note that the US is actually advancing very rapidly on this issue, while Russia is headed in the opposite direction.  The US has a President who is very supportive, while anyone who actually has political power in Russia is a homophobic bigot.

[DC Al Fine]

Given the American government's willingness to let that stuff slide when say Saudi Arabia does it.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Absolutely not.  Russia is far worse than the US on gay rights.  While the US is behind Canada, Sweden, Netherlands, and some other countries, there are several nations that are much worse.

Isn't that like the kid who gets a D on his report card lecturing the kid who failed?

[TDAS04]

Given the American government's willingness to let that stuff slide when say Saudi Arabia does it.

Actually, that is a good point.  The Islamic world should not get a pass on this.

Absolutely not.  Russia is far worse than the US on gay rights.  While the US is behind Canada, Sweden, Netherlands, and some other countries, there are several nations that are much worse.

Isn't that like the kid who gets a D on his report card lecturing the kid who failed?

The difference is a little greater than that.  Although not even Russia is the worst, had I been born there, there would have been a much greater likelihood that my community (maybe even my family) would want me dead.

The US still has room to improve, no doubt, but it is still far better than many other places, rather than just a little.  I live in a conservative state that is even less advanced than the US as a whole.  Still, very few people here hold the intense, violent hatred that most Russians, Iraqis, Jamaicans, Ugandans, and Iranians do.

[Person Man]

It's not. We're not where we need to be but we are going where we need to go. More like the kid who got a C lecturing the kid who got a 43.

[Blue3]

Rick Santorum in the 2012 primaries was advocating for humane treatment of gay people (he didn't believe in them getting married, or being sinless, but he still wanted them to be treated with dignity and rights as human beings). With Santorum probably being the most socially-conservative a politician can be in modern America and have even a slight chance of winning an election... and his position being way ahead of where Russia is now... I don't see how anyone can say this is hypocritical.

In fact, I think this might even allow Republicans to embrace gay marriage even more, even if it's just to contrast with and spite Russia.

[H. Ross Peron]

Only if you support said restrictions in America.

[Person Man]

Rick Santorum in the 2012 primaries was advocating for humane treatment of gay people (he didn't believe in them getting married, or being sinless, but he still wanted them to be treated with dignity and rights as human beings). With Santorum probably being the most socially-conservative a politician can be in modern America and have even a slight chance of winning an election... and his position being way ahead of where Russia is now... I don't see how anyone can say this is hypocritical.

In fact, I think this might even allow Republicans to embrace gay marriage even more, even if it's just to contrast with and spite Russia.

Indeed.

[Hatman 🍁]

Wow, Michigan. Combination of scared conservative whites + socially conservative Blacks?

[Antonio the Sixth]

I'm sure that gays are still better off in at least 45 US States than they are in Russia.

[morgieb]

America might not be perfect on same-sex rights, but Russia is legitimately terrible. It's like the C-grade kid lecturing someone who repeated.

[Incipimus iterum]

I'm sure that gays are still better off in at least 45 US States than they are in Russia.

this

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

No.  The U.S. is moving in the right direction, while the Russians are just losing their minds. 

[bedstuy]

I'm sure that gays are still better off in at least 45 US States than they are in Russia.

I think that's an understatement.

I've been to a gay bar in Mississippi.  Maybe there's one gay bar in Moscow, but I doubt there's one in Perm or Omsk. 

[Person Man]

America might not be perfect on same-sex rights, but Russia is legitimately terrible. It's like the C-grade kid lecturing someone who repeated.

This and this is kinda what happens when you are literally talking about gatekeeper classes in low GPA programs.