Government should not invent laws out of some theoretical concepts. Laws work only when they formalize, cement and enforce the established practice and traditions. In this case, we can unfortunately only tell that the anti-gay law is good. The vast majority of Russian people, and other peoples populating Russia, are strictly against any diversity in this field. It is not mr. Putin or the government, it is the Russian people that is the problem, and the free world should better learn it and take into account than try to fix.
so you're saying the laws in favor of slavery, and against homosexuality, should have been kept? Because they were the established practice and tradition...
Both were results of societal changes, not laws. First traditions changed, then did the laws. Attempt of government to 'teach the people to be good guys' through laws only alienates people from the government. While of course, i have nothing against gays, but i have a tooth on the Orthodox church and other institutions which makes Russians so much like cavemen.