A regional daily columnist has come under fire from a gay news website which claimed he had “mocked” a protest in Russia by two gay activists.
Shropshire Star writer Peter Rhodes wrote a piece about Richard and Rochelle Cohen, who staged a small protest in the Russian city of St Petersburg about the country’s new anti-gay laws.
Peter wrote that “bravery ain’t what it used to be” after the couple were praised by actor and presenter Stephen Fry for having photos taken of themselves with an A4 poster which stated “Gay OK!”
But his piece has been criticised by Richard Cohen in a story by Pink News, run by the couple’s son Benjamin Cohen, which also claimed that Peter has made previous anti-gay comments regarding same-sex marriage.
In the column, Peter wrote: “Bravery ain’t what it used to be. A national newspaper devoted a big feature to Richard and Rochelle Cohen whose son runs a gay news website.
“On a cruise in St Petersburg, the Cohens took a pen and wrote a little A4 poster declaring “Gay OK!” They then took pictures of themselves holding it in the city.
“They didn’t write it in Russian and carefully avoided police, and admitted it was ‘only a little protest’ against Russia’s anti-gay policies.
“For this act they have been lauded by the great national treasure Stephen Fry as ‘brave and good parents.’ Not exactly the Hungarian Uprising, is it?”
Hitting back at the comments, Mr Cohen wrote: “I’m extremely disappointed at the mocking tone of the Shropshire Star’s column.
“I am well aware that our protest wasn’t the most daring piece of gay rights activism that anyone has ever taken part in. However, the point is that even us holding the A4 piece of paper that the newspaper mocked could be considered illegal in Russia because of its horrendous new anti-gay laws.”
In response to the Pink News story, Peter told HTFP: “I believe Shropshire Star readers know me as a fair and reasonable columnist.
“I was pleased to see from the response that even among Pink News readers there is a measure of support for this item.”
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I’d feel embarrassed if I worked on Peter Rhodes’ rag, it sounds like a job on the gutter press would suit him better, not a respectable provincial. He also sounds a bit naive claiming his readers will know him as ‘fair and reasonable’. I think he’ll find the silent majority of his readers will probably think of him as a trolling wind-up. Political protests (even small ones) somewhere as hairy and homophobic as Russia require real bravery, something keyboard warriors like Mr Rhodes know nothing about.
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Well done Peter. What a strange world Mr ‘Pink’ Cohen must live in.
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Sensationalist and feckless comments from a columnist who has probably never ventured further east than Sutton Coldfield (correct me if I am wrong)
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It seems the use of the word “sensitive” as a euphemism to describe somebody who is gay is proving exasperatingly true! I worked with Peter for 15 years and remember him as a top-rate operator and definitely not a troll.
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Any attempts to undermine the Russian Gov’s inhumane attitudes should be welcomed, not mocked – so people have every right to get the hump over Mr Rhodes’ insensitive remarks. And Ian, defending your former colleague’s attitude with a comment that itself also contains a nasty, unfair generalisation about homosexuals is somewhat ironic.
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I think it’s fair to say the columnist was saying that it was the protest which was somewhat underwhelming, not the cause. Thankfully unlike Russia we have freedom of speech here – something ‘Pete’ would do remember.
And stop trying to take fake offence at everything ‘Pete’.
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Given the subject, you’ve got to see the funny side of Peter Rhodes starting a paragraph with “On a cruise in St Petersburg, the Cohens …”.
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He views can be odious sometimes but I can see what Peter Rhodes is saying. It’s more about Stephen Fry than the protestors.
NB unless anything’s changed, Rhodes writes for the Express and Star first and foremost and the column is simply reproduced in the sister title.
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I rest my case !!!
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Why was this the subject of a local paper’s column?
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There are currently two groups in this country that it takes genuine courage to willingly get on the wrong side of – militant Islamists and militant gays. Both are as prejudiced and hate-filled as the other. I can’t see why any self-respecting reasonable gay person should be offended by what Peter wrote. Benjamin Cohen was leaping to his parents’ defence because he thought they’d been made to look foolish. Nothing to do with the lack of gay rights in Russia.
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Would it be too daring to suggest that this would be a “free puff”…..for those old enough to understand the connotation………..ie A piece of writing, containing often exaggerated praise, used for promotional purposes.
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I’m not fake-offended or offended by anything ‘nige’, I’m merely pointing out people’s ignorance and hypocrisy. Before they open their mouth I think some people should Google ‘privilege checking’ and take note. And what exactly, Subbed Out, is a ‘militant gay’? Again. Privilege.
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I’m from Russia. From my pov those parents are nobody but ill-bred,ill-mannered people who don’t respect the traditions and rules of the country where they are guests
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I just wish I could get through one day in England without seeing or hearing about Stephen Fry…he’s everywhere! I thought we had diversity of opinion in the UK.
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LOL – the Express and Star doesn’t consider itself a local paper.
It’s a heady mix of national and regional news and is intended to be a one-stop news shop for its readers and still had correspondents in Westminster when I was there a few years ago.
You might think it deluded but the editor would consider Sky News as the competition.
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