Merkel calls on Putin to support gay rights in Chechnya

[DonViejo]

Watch Merkel pressure Putin to stop the purge of LGBTQ people in Chechnya

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2017/05/watch-merkel-pressure-putin-stop-purge-lgbtq-people-chechnya/

[ck4829]

1. He won't. Kadyrov is using a lot of the same rhetoric the Kremlin does

The whole "non-standard sexual orientation" shtick in particular.

[delisen]

2. Merkel has guts. She stands up to Vlad the Poisoner and waves

the banner of human rights in his face. She grew up in East Germany. She knows that if you don't choose to stand for equality early, you won't get that choice later.

To people who think the human rights message should take second place to an economic message for Trump voters who are supposedly turned off by equality, ponder this:

Hitler greatly improved the German economy but it turned out that really wasn't what his supporters were after. The real driver was human rights-who deserved them and who did not.

Merkel knows you have to engage on this issue, not retreat.

[David__77]

3. I hope that Merkel will think on this issue, and support marriage rights in Germany.

She could take an important step today, by changing her position, and supporting same sex marriage rights in Germany.

This isn't to say that speaking out on the global stage isn't important or is less or more important; just that Merkel can use her voice for good at home.