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August 23, 2013 - Gray and Gay by John D. Siegfried

Unintended Consequences

The lexicon of old adages is replete with time honored sayings that hint at the unintended consequences of a poorly thought out decision. “Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water” has little to do with babies or bathwater. Similarly, “Look before you leap” is a warning that a jump may have unintended consequences ranging from a broken leg to death.

An e-mail I saved titled Thoughts For The Zen Challenged, details some unintended consequences with humor, such as:

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day.
Teach him how to fish and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.

Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes.
That way, when you criticize them, you’re a mile away and you have their shoes.

If at first you don’t succeed, skydiving is not for you.

As the movement to boycott Russian products, particularly vodka—a movement I was quick to endorse since I don’t drink vodka in the first place—has gathered steam, I’ve thought of the unintended consequences of such a move. Stolichnaya Vodka, fondly referred to as Stoli in gay and lesbian groups has been a major supporter of gay pride events world-wide almost since the inception of official celebrations. Dumping Stoli down the drain really may not accomplish much other than to give the drain a hangover.

Stoli isn’t a Russian vodka in the first place. It’s distilled and bottled in Latvia which has been out of the Soviet Union for decades. The owner of the company, a Russian milliionaire who has been in exile from Russia since 2002, has his corporate offices, SPI, in Luxemburg. In a public statement, MOZAIKA, a Latvian organization of LGBT people and their friends, says, “The international society should act and react in regard to grave violations of human rights in Russisa and elsewhere. However, it is essential to do careful research before every action to make sure it reaches the addressee of the campaign. …All Stolichnaya vodka for worldwide export is produced in Latvia. …this campaign (i.e Dump Stoli) will only harm Latvia, Latvia’s economy and the employees of Latvijas Balzamas. …It could also backfire and have unintended consequences for the extremely fragile LGBT community in Latvia.”

Stoli management says, “As a company that encourages transparency and fairness, we are upset and angry (i.e. with the Russian government). Solichnaya Vodka has always been and continues to be a fervent supporter and friend to the LGBT community.”

Well, I want the boycott of Russian products to succeed in calling attention to the repressive actions of Putin and his pals. And I do want it to backfire but not on the Latvians and the Stoli makers. I want enough of an international outcry leading up to the Olympics that Putin will be sorry he ever put his fist in the hornets nest.

And as one who has been a part of the gay scene for many decades, I’ve observed that the rhetoric of the most homophobic individuals is frequently a thin disguise for their inability to deal with personal gay issues—think J. Edgar Hoover, or Ted Haggard. So, I have to say, Mr. Putin, “Me thinks thou protesteth too loudly.” Why does the ex KGB, macho man who is frequently photographed shirtless need to take it out on gays? What’s your personal agenda?

John Siegfried, M.D., a former Rehoboth resident, lives in Ft. Lauderdale. He is the author of Gray & Gay, A Journey of Self-acceptance. Email John Siegfried

‹ August 23, 2013 - Thinking Out Loud by Abby Dees up August 23, 2013 - Buzz Worthy by Deb Griffin ›

Past Issues

Issues Index

  • February 8, 2013 - Issue Index
  • March 8, 2013 - Issue Index
  • April 5, 2013 - Issue Index
  • May 3, 2013 - Issue Index
  • May 17, 2013 - Issue Index
  • May 31, 2013 - Issue Index
  • June 14, 2013 - Issue Index
  • June 28, 2013 - Issue Index
  • July 12, 2013 - Issue Index
  • July 26, 2013 - Issue Index
  • August 9, 2013 - Issue Index
  • August 23, 2013 - Issue Index
    • August 23, 2013 - Acknowledgments
    • August 23, 2013 - The Way I See It by Steve Elkins
    • August 23, 2013 - Speak Out - Letters to Letters
    • August 23, 2013 - In Brief
    • August 23, 2013 - CAMPmatters by Murray Archibald
    • August 23, 2013 - Sundance News and Notes
    • August 23, 2013 - Sundance 2013 by Nancy Sakaduski
    • August 23, 2013 - CAMP Out by Fay Jacobs
    • August 23, 2013 - Amazon Trail by Lee Lynch
    • August 23, 2013 - CAMP Stories by Rich Barnett
    • August 23, 2013 - Before the Beach by Bob Yesbek
    • August 23, 2013 - Booked Solid by Terri Schlichenmeyer
    • August 23, 2013 - Ask the Doctor by Michael J. Hurd, Ph.D.
    • August 23, 2013 - CAMP Arts by Doug Yetter
    • August 23, 2013 - Volunteer Spotlight by Chris Beagle
    • August 23, 2013 - Volunteer Thank You
    • August 23, 2013 - View Point by Richard Rosendall
    • August 23, 2013 - AIDS Walk 2013 by Glen C. Pruitt
    • August 23, 2013 - The Outfield by Dan Woog
    • August 23, 2013 - CAMPshots Gallery Index
    • August 23, 2013 - Hear Me Out by Chris Azzopardi
    • August 23, 2013 - CAMP Dates
    • August 23, 2013 - Thinking Out Loud by Abby Dees
    • August 23, 2013 - Gray and Gay by John D. Siegfried
    • August 23, 2013 - Buzz Worthy by Deb Griffin
  • September 13, 2013 - Issue Index
  • October 11, 2013 - Issue Index
  • November 15, 2013 - Issue Index

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