Russia: anti-gay activist claims he had 29 teachers fired
A Russian self-styled “homophobe cat” claims his campaign has resulted in 29 teachers fired for being gay.
Timur Isayev has collected evidence about gay and lesbian teachers, according to Vocativ, and sent it to their employers in an attempt to get them sacked. Most recently, he targeted a lesbian teacher in St Petersburg who taught music to primary school children with disabilities such as autism and cerebral palsy.
She was reported as being well-liked and her employers were satisfied with her work, but felt they had no choice to fire her. The school administration said they believed the orders came from the city education department, but city officials deny this.
Isayev said in a post circulated on Russian social media: “It’s a crime to allow such teachers as [redacted] around children because communication with such teachers won’t teach children good behavior, it won’t give them a well-rounded view of the world, and it won’t give them the ability to respect the family and Russian tradition.
“And this teacher doesn’t only demonstrate her personal life, but she also puts up photos of sodomy on the internet, for everyone to see. She shows up at school with lesbian attributes: rings on her big fingers and pinky fingers, other specific jewelry, dressed like a man, cutting her hair short, which can be a bad example for the behavior of children.”
There have been many documented cases of teachers being fired for being gay, as well as straight teachers fired for supporting LGBT rights. Russia’s law banning “gay propaganda” being distrusted to children is often cited as a reason to fire such teachers.
Isayev bragged about his crusade to oust LGBT teachers on social media, but has since been arrested and charged for unrelated embezzlement and petty theft crimes.
