Russia bans transexuals and transgenders from driving

[removeduser_487563287433]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30735673

Wow, Russia going on Saudi Arabia? As we all know, Russia actively persecutes and scapegoats its minorities, with a particular focus on homosexuals (i.e. Russia blames its out of control HIV infection rate on homosexuals, when unclean needles are the primary cause). The Russian Government has said this is in response to the rate of road accidents in Russia, bewilderingly.

[Aanker]

Well you know, they can't drive straight.

I apologize if this poor pun may offend anyone.

And yeah, this continues the trend of Russian democratization and the creation of an appealing sphere of culture and sophisticated society that may compete with decadent Western ideals. All in the name of road safety.

[Big War Bird]

Have you ever tried to drive in high heels? Don't be so quick to judge.

[The Despondent Mind]

Russia seems to be stuck in a endless loop of progress-regress, I guess they will never mature as a superpower or a society.

[Knight of Heaven]

Well you know, they can't drive straight.

Has anyone in Russia drive straight?

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

in doubt check youtube for popular Russian driving videos.

Wow, Russia going on Saudi Arabia?

[Kanaric]

lmao even Iran is better to trans. Well they make gays trans as a "cure" but Russia is right next to them.

[IZob]

Wow, Russia going on Saudi Arabia?

My thoughts exactly.

[DaniCatBurger]

There will be more people using the hovercraft and the horse.

[LaMuerte]

Eagerly awaiting the results of this ... hmm ... policy. Imagine it having an impact on the number of car accidents...

[gaunty14]

Wow.....

[Garbarsardar]

Transgenderism is both a DSM and ICD disorder, which is essentially a good thing in most countries since it allows for insurance cover of sex reassignment operations. Of course there is zero data about any impact of it (and I guess other disorders on the Russian list) on the ability of operating any type of equipment. But I am pretty sure that the Russian scientific community which is very silent on the issue will come up with a study or two soon. Or not.

[Celsius]

So how exactly do they know if you're gay while driving? Do they put it on your license? What's the bureaucratic happenings here?

[Garbarsardar]

So how exactly do they know if you're gay while driving? Do they put it on your license? What's the bureaucratic happenings here?

It's not gay, it's transgender. I guess when one applies to renew an existing or issue a new licence, the medical file of the person is taken into account. That would identify post-op transgender people and also those who ever asked for help for gender dysphoria. Absent of medical file, I guess (again) that the licencing authority could ask for a psychiatric evaluation on the basis of appearance or even on any whimsical basis. I don't think they plan to remove existing licences.

[Dr Zoidberg]

So how exactly do they know if you're gay while driving? Do they put it on your license? What's the bureaucratic happenings here?

If you're gay, you'll be charged with a DWF: Driving While Fabulous!!!!!!

[Dave Strider]

Russia's been for a while now. This just confirms their fecal composition.

[paleologos]

Did it ever occur to anyone that as sanctions and economic warfare (against the Russian leadership's drive to restore Russia's status as a world power player) exacerbate economic oppression domestically, so will the Russian society accelerate it's downward spiral towards fascism?

Remember Nazi Germany:
It took several years of Weimarish despondence for the Nazis to build up their clout with the masses.
When they took power they made darn sure to blame all of Germany's problems on easily identifiable minorities.
Then the oppression began to be transformed from economic to sociopolitical and cultural.
With the help of plausible -however shifty- arguments, this was interpreted as a sign of changes underway to a better state of things, allowing the nascent Nazi regime the time they needed to further consolidate their power.

Now, Putin may have been in power for quite some time but the recent developments are not doing his grasp of that power any favours, so he needs to show "strength".

I can very well imagine the average Russian thinking "...we may be poorer now but at least they are cleaning up the streets from this --enter anti-LGBT slur here--".

[removeduser_487563287433]

Did it ever occur to anyone that as sanctions and economic warfare (against the Russian leadership's drive to restore Russia's status as a world power player) exacerbate economic oppression domestically, so will the Russian society accelerate it's downward spiral towards fascism?
.

Since Russia has been passing anti-gay legislation for years prior to the sanctions, no.

[paleologos]

Since Russia has been passing anti-gay legislation for years prior to the sanctions, no.

What part of "exacerbate" don't you understand?

Economic oppression in Russia did not end with the fall of communism.
Economic oppression is not just grinding poverty, it is the lack of opportunity and even the preferential access to opportunity.

A quasi-disenfranchised population will only tolerate their elites if they are led to believe that they are better off than someone else.
It's what makes poor people conservative even though they have nothing to conserve.

This trend will only accelerate and not just in Russia.

[removeduser_487563287433]

What part of "exacerbate" don't you understand?

Economic oppression in Russia did not end with the fall of communism.
Economic oppression is not just grinding poverty, it is the lack of opportunity and even the preferential access to opportunity.

A quasi-disenfranchised population will only tolerate their elites if they are led to believe that they are better off than someone else.
It's what makes poor people conservative even though they have nothing to conserve.

This trend will only accelerate and not just in Russia.

Then your view is plain nonsense, if you'd like to dispense with politeness. This isn't an attempt to punish the west it's just the ineffective government looking for a scapegoat to explain it's failures.

[Mangalore]

What part of "exacerbate" don't you understand?

Economic oppression in Russia did not end with the fall of communism.
Economic oppression is not just grinding poverty, it is the lack of opportunity and even the preferential access to opportunity.

A quasi-disenfranchised population will only tolerate their elites if they are led to believe that they are better off than someone else.
It's what makes poor people conservative even though they have nothing to conserve.

This trend will only accelerate and not just in Russia.

You are certainly right that the anti homosexual narrative by Russia has an equal amount to do with domestic spin as it does with denouncing western ideals as decadent and morally bankrupt => "So don't wish for liberty, folks!" It is at least a part of making western values less appealing by making ridiculous connections and false claims.

I don't think we are on the same level as the rise of the Third Reich quite, yet.