Gay Russians May Find Safe Haven In Canada, Chris Alexander Says
The Huffington Post Canada, 08/13/2013 3:55 pm EDT

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/08/13/gay-russian-refugees-canada-chris-alexander_n_3750227.html

Immigration Minister Chris Alexander says Canada's refugee board will likely favour gay asylum-seekers wishing to escape persecution in Russia.

Alexander told The Globe and Mail Monday that refugee claims "related to this particular issue will of course be looked at very seriously by our very generous system."

Controversial new legislation in Russia, signed by President Vladimir Putin in June, bans "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations" and imposes fines on those holding gay pride rallies.

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird slammed the legislation, which he fears will be enforced during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, as something that may incite violence.

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Immigration Minister: Canada will 'seriously' consider refugee claims by Russian homosexuals
THADDEUS BAKLINSKI, August 13, 2013 14:45 EST

http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/immigration-minister-canada-will-seriously-consider-refugee-claims-by-russi/

Canada's newly appointed immigration minister said that Russia is wrong in restricting homosexual propaganda aimed at youth and indicated that refugee claims by Russian homosexuals will be given serious consideration by the Conservative government.

Speaking at a Canadian citizenship ceremony in Surrey, B.C. on August 12, Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander said the Conservative government of Stephen Harper has made its position on the Russian laws against homosexual proselytizing known and that Russian refugee claims "related to this particular issue will of course be looked at very seriously by our very generous system"...

"This is a rights issue and Canadian values... require us to speak up when those rights are violated in gross ways," Alexander said according to a Global News report. "We are going to speak out about Russia's inappropriate actions in this area until the situation improves."

A little about some who are looking to go to Canada:

Russian Law Sends Gay Families Running and Hiding
http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/international/russian-law-sends-gay-families-running-and-hiding/
Author: Maria Antonova Source: The Jakarta Globe

"Maria and Alexandra vaguely considered leaving Russia for several years, but it was not until this year's anti-gay legislation that they started to gather paperwork. The quiet, academic lesbian couple, who live with a seven-year-old daughter in the outskirts of Moscow, have now lost hope that Russia is moving in the direction of Europe, where same-sex marriages are increasingly legalized despite opposition from conservatives." They're looking to go to Canada where Alexandra qualifies as a young professional and could bring the whole family over under Canada's same-sex couple laws.

Now that the anti-gay propaganda law has been passed, lawmakers are now looking to pass a law which would allow the state to remove children from the homes of gay and lesbian couples.