On the face of it the Western reaction to Russia's newly-enacted legislation relating to gays seems perhaps somewhat overblown in its outrage. The legislation itself should not be surprising, since Russia is a conservative society in every sense. Most Russians by far would agree that they have no wish to see young people receiving 'helpful' information about homosexuality to assuage their uncertainties, fears and misapprehensions and to, in the process, reassure them that in their confusion they are not alone.

Homosexuality is a simple fact of biology. And it is human nature to veer away, be suspicious about and deny the appropriateness of anything that is different, runs counter to or upsets the notion of 'normalcy'. Human beings are programmed by nature to seek comfort in groups of others who are like themselves. Humans scorn and degrade what they take to be differences, non-conformance with societal and biological norms. It is not one of our prettier attributes as human beings, but it is an attribute conferred on us as a survival mechanism, increasing our chances of overcoming adversity.

The trouble with the new Russian legislation is that it leads people to believe that the state sanctions the alienation of the 'normal' from the 'abnormal'. That it is right and proper and justified to be prejudiced against others because of their differences. Enhancing in the process the very real potential for not merely social discrimination of a subtle variety to be unleashed but thuggish violence to be perpetrated against gays.

Homosexuality is a personal matter, however, and it should be kept that way. Outwardly visible manifestation of gender preferences mandated by birth and biology have traditionally given rise to resentment and anger. The problem here is the visibility. Despite the damaging use of generalities to explain situations it is obvious enough that gays revel in revealing themselves when they are assured that the law protects them from abuse and discrimination, as it most certainly should do. Under that social-judicial protection gays behave en masse, like spoiled juveniles, pushing the limits of public patience.

Many people no more wish to witness overt gay love-making than they would wish to see heterosexuals making out in the public sphere. Sex is a private issue, one that should be pursued in the confines of the bedroom, so to speak. Being gay, because it is a normal condition for a surprisingly large proportion of any population, should be seen as no different than heterosexuality in its public acceptance, but it should also not be a condition of acceptance that gayness be thrust continually at the attention of the larger society.

The pretentious conceit among too many gays is that they are entitled to flaunt their sexuality at everyone, and this is offensive coming from any quarter. The ostentatious displays of near-nudity, colourfully perplexing costumes, mock pantomimes of sexual congress, accompanied by general hilarity speak more of vulgar excess, deliberate and provocative "just because", than the actions of intelligent beings committed to getting along amicably with everyone else. If overt displays of gross indecency are offensive coming from heterosexuals and as such are considered social insults, no less so are those committed by gays.

REUTERS/Jaime Saldarriaga

Western societies, after having harboured among themselves oafs who mocked and denigrated, violated the human rights of outed gays and in the process imprisoning them, setting the stage for violence to be committed against those communities, have now committed themselves to a full turn toward compassionate understanding and commitment to full equality within the larger community. They have also meekly accepted childish cavorting and public displays of outright sexual stupidity for which no rebukes result because of an eagerness to demonstrate just how cosmopolitan we have become.

It is a situation that insults intelligence and the need for people to fully accommodate themselves to one another. It is a situation that has resulted in heterosexuals accustoming themselves to accept without question, behaviours that would never be countenanced with equanimity if it developed from their own communities, but which are judged to be appropriate from within the gay community.

This is not equality, it is pandering to those arrested in the juvenile stage of social development.

( Mario Tama/Getty Images )