It’s one of Russia’s prominent food chains, and it’s run by a fervently religious nationalist and millionaire who’s taken it upon himself to hang up a “No entry for fa**ots” sign on one of his brick-and-mortar shops.
As The Daily Telegraph reports, the wooden plate was placed at the entranceway to one of German Sterligov’s shops in central Moscow.
Homosexuality was decriminalized in Russia in 1993 after the fall of the Soviet Union, and although sexual discrimination is prohibited by Russian law, much of the gay community still lives in secret. Prejudice is thriving.
Related: This high school wrestler crushed homophobia and reached the state finals
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The 50-year-old businessman earned his riches by opening a mercantile exchange right before the Soviet Union’s fall. Later he turned rabidly religious, moving to rural Russia to sell organic product with his family.
Talking to Reuters Television, Sterligov made his feelings about homosexuality all too clear:
“Our planet is full of filth and sick humans.
“In front of our eyes is the historical experience of Sodom and Gomorrah when God burned these towns.”
Speaking at a farm fair through a loudspeaker, Sterligov maniacally praised Trump, particularly for his revoking of Barack Obama‘s decision to let transgender students use whatever bathroom they please.
Related: WATCH: News anchor LOSES IT with homophobic colleague on live TV
“We thank him,” he said. “May God give him health.”
Yulia Gorbunova is a Human Rights Watch researcher who says Sterligov’s utter disregard for the law sends a chilling message to a country where antigay sentiment still runs rampant.
Talking to Reuters Television, she said:
“It seems like they are promoting homophobia in an already homophobic society and it only leads to rising tensions. The state certainly has a responsibility to stop that and step in.”
Meanwhile, a young assistant in one of Sterligov’s Moscow stores says that “as a true Christian” she’s in total agreement with the store’s opinion on homosexuality, eerily adding, “It’s our guarding talisman.”
Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, maintains that he doesn’t discriminate against any sexual minorities.
GayEGO
Where is PUtty boy’s picture, he is at the top of this prominent food chain!
tham
Don’t show a pic of an American grocery store when talking about Russia.
You should show a pic of a store with only potatoes…and if it’s the summer time…apples. Oh and a big section for vodka.
Sadly, this isn’t a stereotype, this is how they live.
Throbert McGee
You should show a pic of a store with only potatoes…and if it’s the summer time…apples. Oh and a big section for vodka. Sadly, this isn’t a stereotype, this is how they live.
See, this is what Russians would call a razvesistaya kliukva, which loosely translates as “a majestic cranberry tree.” ‘Cause cranberries actually grow on squat little shrubs that aren’t in any way big and majestic. In other words, it’s a Russian idiom that means “a farcically inaccurate stereotype.”
The truth is, Russian grocery stores have hugely improved and modernized since Soviet times, and the shop in question with the “F*ggots prohibited” sign is deliberately retro-nostalgic, with goods like sea-salt and hand-ground wheat flour sold in recycled glass jars or brown-paper sacks. It’s some kind of quasi-Christian back-to-the-earth ministry.
wmca_goodguys
I seem to remember hearing about a “figurative” sign at UC Berkeley: “No conservatives allowed (and you might want to be concerned for your physical safety upon entry here)”. Seems like intolerance exists on both sides.
Juanjo
I seem to remember hearing about internet trolls who make up claims about signs and things they have seen or heard about and posting them on line. Usually as here, in a blatant false equivalency argument.
ChrisK
Ah Mo Bro. Nice new screen name.
Mo Bro
@Juanjo:
Whether there exists such a sign or not is irrelevant.
Surely you recall the university riots that ensued when conservative speakers were brought in? Berkeley, NYU . . . you should look it up. Fascinating stuff.
Actions speak much louder than words on any sign.
DCguy
Awww, how adorable, a made up story about something you MAY have heard that you can’t find a link to, and are comparing to legal discrimination against LGBTs.
Mo Bro, your other screenames are just as obvious t being anti-lgbt trolls as you.
AND, notice how far the Republican party has sunk….on this posting, they aren’t defending the GOP, they are defending RUSSIA. Because the GOP has not just become anti American, they are now pro-Russia and pro- lgbt hatred.
Juanjo
Miss MofakeBro troll – do you have anything but false equivalencies? Especially ones which are totally blown out of their factual basis? No need to answer, it is a rhetorical question.
niles
In your particular case, if you ceased to exist, the world would be a better place. Not suggesting anything, mind you, but take it under consideration.
man5996853
Refusing to tolerate intolerant people is not intolerant. It is just and necessary.
Dick Gozinia
Shouldn’t you be showing us a photo of the sign which is the subject of your article? As is, there isn’t a single reason to believe this article is true.
pharaon.em.joe
http://i.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/93046888/Russian-millionaire-bans-gay-customers-at-his-food-store-chain
Here is your picture, Dick. It took me 2 seconds, literally.
Juanjo
The article is originally from Reuters so you should inform them that the article does not meet your standards of journalism. See also here – http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Russian-millionaires-retail-chain-says-gays-not-welcome-494005
ChrisK
Thanks for the link. I thought this was a regular grocery store. This is more like the Mercantile store on Little House on the Prairie.
1EqualityUSA
A politicized Supreme Court, pushing their theology from the bench will have signs such as this cropping up in Texas, Alabama, and South Carolina before you can say, “Pass the potatoes, apples, and vodka, please.”
He BGB
There needs to be a movement by Christians to correct this lie about christ not accepting everyone snd no mention of hating gays. Seems like this fear and ignorance exasperated in the 80s, when HIV AIDS was blamed on gay men. Viruses don’t choose gender or sexual preference. Christ did not hate and reject gay people. This is all rampant fear and ignorance. And the old testament? Anybody can interpret those ancient language passages any way they want with a modern spin and murder their wives if they are raped or commit adultery or eat shellfish. Russia is obviously a very backward country with a maniac for a leader, kind of like where the US is headed.
radiooutmike
There should be.
The only mention of homosexuality was written in the books of the apostles chastising the seedling churches for the sin of debauchery. Christ never mentioned shit about gay people. If it was so important, why isn’t it in the New Testament? Surely, one could find one reference of Christ saying gays are bad in one of the many suppressed gospels that did not make it in, right?
JJinAus
You Stockholm Syndrome god botherers need to read you own rancid book. Allow an atheist to educate you about your vile death cult…
Matthew 5:18-19, Luke 16:17, Matthew 5:17, John7:19
1EqualityUSA
“The most important commandment,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:28)
It’s easy to love one of your own. If you merely love those who love you, what quality of credit and thanks is that to you? For even the very sinners love their lovers—those who love them. (Luke 6:32)
Would Christ want liars, disingenuous flock members pretending to be something other than they are? There are moral laws and ceremonial ones. JJinAus, your comment was specious. I’m surprised you didn’t dust off some of the gems thrown at our communities over this decade. blah.
pharaon.em.joe
He is the filthy and sick human.. oh wait. No he doesn’t classify as human.. and for those of you wondering, he doesn’t classify as an animal. Disgrace to humanity.
ChrisK
He is but just remember that for every evil that’s been done to others they first dehumanized the other. This is right out of the genocide play book.
1EqualityUSA
Thanks for noticing, ChrisK.
ChrisK
I love it when these dumb shitheads bring up Sodom and Gomorrah. This asshole is a fine example of the story since it’s about inhospitably towards others. Also It shows how it’s really all about them and their hate.
batesmotel
Oh that’s in Russia. No surprise there.
Mo Bro
Unacceptable.
Hopefully his business will suffer.
NateOcean
“No Entry for Fa**ots” might be an innocent misunderstanding.
Might they actually mean “Entry in Rear Only” or possibly “Deliveries in Rear”.
That’s been my experience with this kind. The louder they protest “No Entry for Fa**ots” they more likely they hungrily, aggressively, secretly prefer to have the rear used.
Blackceo
Why isn’t the 2018 World Cup being stripped from Russia??!! FIFA would really show that they are trying to change for the good by refusing to allow the World Cup to be held there. There are so many human rights issues that they need to take a stand. There shouldn’t be any kind of international sporting competition held there while this madness is going on.
OzJosh
Once again, we’re left to reflect on those who voted for Trump. They all have blood on their hands.
Mo Bro
Americans who voted for Trump have blood on their hands because a grocer in Russia posted an anti-gay sign??? lol, wtf, smh, and wow. Just . . . wow. The disconnect and derangement there is simply stunning.
I hope you get well soon, Josh.
1EqualityUSA
Mo, minimizer bunny.
silveroracle
Shame on such closed minded people.
Karma will come round.
My heart goes out to all LGBT people living there in fear.
mezzacanadese
I have gay friends in Russia, and I am sorry they have to live in such a toxic environment. A large percent of the population are homophobes, egged on by their macho leader, Putin. Could it be that he’s afraid of his own tendencies?
DCguy
Excuse me but what the hell is going on with this article here? The article says “”Homosexuality was decriminalized in Russia in 1993 after the fall of the Soviet Union, and although sexual discrimination is prohibited by Russian law, much of the gay community still lives in secret. Prejudice is thriving.””
Um, yeah, until 2013 when the Anti-lgbt law was signed into law by Putin on June 30th after being passed by every lawmaker in the Duma but one who abstained. The law outlaws ANYTHING lgbt as gay propaganda.
Why would Queerty dangerously misrepresent the current legal situation of lgbts in Russia???? ANYTHING public is grounds for arrest, including holding hands, writing an article, speaking publicly about anything lgbt related. I’m seriously surprised that
Maude
1EqualityUSA,
You may be right, but it does you no good when you fail to acknowledge the fact FACT that the Supreme Court has more often than not been a court that leans with the left or right depending on the majority of make-up.
Pointing out the full truth of the matter gives you, and by extension the whole Gay community, some of the credibility we lack in the straight world’s eyes.
Every little bit helps.
1EqualityUSA
Look to the usurpation of Merrick Garland, Citizens United, the excised Section 4 of Voting Rights Act, Hobby Lobby, and religious liberty cases going before an illegitimate Justice Gorsuch, the mixing of religion and government, the age of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and these are the things that keep me awake at night. Courts lean to and fro, but this fro has been forced on us. RBG lives!
Maude
I once tried to get out of jury-duty by announcing that I was Gay, but I was accepted for jury duty anyway.
To date, I haven’t been able to decide if that was a plus or minus for Gay’s everywhere.
1EqualityUSA
Tell them you’re an artist.
ohiogreg
How does he know what they look like unless they’re outwardly feminine?
Ari Gold
Honestly, who cares? If this guy doesn’t want gays in his store, so be it. Just go somewhere else. Homophobia is alive and well and is literally going nowhere.
Throbert McGee
Oh, stewardess — I speak jive!
And I know a little Russian, too — he’s sitting over there. [ba-DUMP-ching] Anyway, here’s my thoroughly researched take on it. Executive summary: The dude sells peasant-chic rye bread for $30 a loaf, but is prejudiced against homosexuals and painted strumpets.
bennybjazz
Another Russian, Vyacheslav Molotov invented a simple solution for dealing with places like that.