Thanks Putin, Now We are United-Got greatest protest songs

  

There's a growing global movement against Russia's anti-gay "propaganda" ban, passed last summer to suppress LGBT activism before the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. Instead, the law's had the opposite effect, galvinizing pro-gay support at home and abroad.

People around the world are demanding that the Russian government repeal the legislation, with many calling for an Olympic boycott. A very short list of outspoken critics includes over 50 Olympic athletes, 27 Nobel laureates, 200 prominent authors, several heads of state, Gandolf, Pussy Riot, Lady Gaga, Madonna, Elton John, Melissa Etheridge, Cher, George Takei, Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry (yes, Bertie and Jeeves!) and Russia's own Mikhail Baryshnikov.

Other activists are going old school with protest songs denouncing Russia's escalating homophobia and demonstrating solidarity with the country's LGBT community. Some of the songs are dancey and subversive; others are quiet and deeply moving. All stick it to Vladimir. 

This song by London-based indie rock group Autoheart is about the "daft optimism of being in love." The video portrays two Russian soldiers kissing — a public expression of homosexuality that would actually get them arrested under Russia’s anti-gay law.

Sarah Dougherty 

http://www.globalpost.com