The Governor of the EAO called not to confuse the flag of the region with a LGBT flag

The Governor of the Jewish Autonomous Region Rostislav Goldstein called not to confuse the rainbow flag of the region with the rainbow flag of LGBT, calling the first "biblical symbol". He stated this on the air of RTVI.

Journalists asked Goldstein whether in the region they see the risks of the flag of the EAO in connection with the new law on the prohibition of propaganda of LGBT. “The flag of the Jewish autonomous region has nothing to do with the flag of the LGBT. If you open the original sources, you will see. When the Lord appeared on Mount Sinai, he asked:“ How does my people find out that you are constantly with us? ”And he says:“ I will be in the form of a rainbow. ”Therefore, the flag of the Jewish autonomous region is a biblical symbol. Governor.

Goldstein’s statement is not entirely true, the rainbow appears in the Bible after the Great Flood, when Noah and his family leaves the ark. He sacrifices several animals, and God in response promises not to curse people anymore and not exterminate humanity. The rainbow was a symbol of this promise. On Sinai Gora, according to the Bible, God appeared to Moses in the form of a “pillars of a cloud during the day, and a pillar of fire at night” and handed him ten commandments.

The difference between the symbol of the LGBT community and the flag of the EAO is also that in the second one is one color more and it is located on a white background. Discussions about the similarity of the two flags were still conducted with the adoption of the first law on the prohibition of "propaganda of non -traditional relations."

In 2013, a resident of the region complained to the flag in the Heraldic Council under the President of Russia, but they did not find propaganda there. Although journalists already noted that the flags on the streets of Birobidzhan were significantly less due to the policy of local authorities. In 2020, the EAO flag was jokingly offered to ban the TV presenter Ksenia Sobchak, thus commenting on attempts to prohibit the ice cream "Rainbow".

• In early December, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a package of laws on the complete ban on "propaganda of non -traditional relations." He introduces administrative responsibility for the use of LGBT symbols, including a rainbow flag. For violation, large fines are provided: for citizens - up to 400 thousand rubles, for legal entities - up to five million rubles.