Current Affairs

Amsterdam to fly rainbow flag for Russian President Putin’s visit to the capital

Mar 27 2013
Written by Amy Ashenden

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a pink background.

The capital of the Netherlands will fly the rainbow flag when Russian President Vladimir Putin comes to Amsterdam on 8 April, in protest against the proposed bill that would make promotion of homosexuality among youths punishable in Russia.

The Russian State Duma voted 388-1 to support the bill on 25 January. It will return for a second reading later this year.

The progress of the bill has been marked by frequent clashes between the bills supporters and LGBT rights activists, who say if the bill passes people could potentially be fined for as little as kissing their same-sex partner in public, or giving pro-LGBT advice to young people.

“The [Amsterdam] College wishes to express its concern with the rainbow flag and the seven districts will ask to do the same,” said a spokesperson for the city’s council. “Amsterdam is committed to an open and tolerant city where everyone can be who he is. The flag stands for diversity and gay acceptance.”

Putin is due to go to the Maritime Museum and The Hermitage Museum on 8 April, where he and Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands will attend the official Netherlands-Russia 2013 Year of Friendship opening ceremony.

The Russian President will have dinner with several Dutch and Russian entrepreneurs to celebrate the event, which marks a year of cultural exchange between the two nations.

TV presenter Stephen Fry recently visited Russia to film a documentary on the problems LGBT people face.

And earlier this month, a poll found that almost a quarter of Russians want ‘compulsory treatment’ for gays and 5% think gay people should be ‘liquidated.’