Putin’s political party present anti-gay flag

The Moscow division of Russian president Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party has produced an anti-gay flag in response to the recent country-wide legalisation of same-sex marriage in the USA.

The flag features the cartoon silhouette of a family made up of a mother, father and three children, accompanied by the hashtag “#realfamily” (in Russian). It will be showcased for the first time at the Party event in Sokolniki Park today in celebration of the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity.

The deputy head of the Moscow division of United Russia, Alexey Lisovenko, stated that the celebration this year would include a demonstration in defence of traditional values, planned for 7pm today. United Russia has invited around one thousand people to participate.

“This is our response to same-sex marriage, this mockery of our understanding of marriage. We should warn against gay-fever here in Russia and support traditional values,” Lisovenko stated.

The cartoon silhouette featured on the flag will be set against a red, blue or white background, evoking the Russian flag, in a protest against the LGBT rainbow flag that has been prevalent on websites and social media, including the White House official webpage, since the US Supreme Court ruling on 26 June. Following the ruling, Lisovenko has proposed to the Duma that the rainbow flag be added to the list of symbols illegal in Russia.