Russian runners kiss on the winners podium at competition in Moscow

(L-R)Gold medalist Tatyana Firova and Kseniya
Ryzhova of Russia kiss on the podium during
the medal ceremony for the Women's 4x400
metres Relay during the IAAF World Athletics
Championships Moscow.







-- When is a kiss not just a kiss?
It's not always clear.

Russian athletes Kseniya Ryzhova and Tatyana
Firova kissed each other over the weekend on
the winners podium after taking gold in the
women's 4x400 meter relay at the World
Athletics Championships in Moscow.
Was it just a celebratory kiss? Or was it a
political statement?
The athletes have not said.
But their kiss came at a highly charged
moment for gay rights in Russia, which
recently implemented an anti-gay propaganda
law.

The law, which bars the public discussion of
gay rights and relationships anywhere children
might hear, has led to calls to boycott the
2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
U.S. runner Nick Symmonds blasts Russia on
gay rights

Gay rights campaigners have drawn parallels
between Moscow's actions and Nazi Germany's
persecution of Jews or apartheid in South
Africa.
Russia, meanwhile, insists that its law barring
"propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations
to minors" is not discriminatory but is
intended to protect children.

Almost three-quarters of Russians said
homosexuality should not be accepted by
society, while just 16% said it should be
accepted, a recent Pew Research Center survey
of global attitudes revealed.

By comparison, 33% of people surveyed in the
United States said homosexuality should not be
accepted by society, while 60% said it should.
In Britain, only 18% opposed accepting
homosexuality, with 76% saying it should be
accepted.

Russian athlete defends Russia's anti-gay
propaganda