Today, Russia’s Interior Ministry, which controls the police force, confirmed that the controversial anti-gay propaganda law will be enforced at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, but insisted that no one will be targeted simply for being gay.
Under Russia’s anti-gay propaganda law, citizens and foreigners can be arrested for up to 15 days and face deportation for spreading the gay gospel among the youth.
International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge had demanded clarification on the law, after originally claiming that athletes and spectators visiting the country would not be affected by the discriminatory legislation.
The IOC’s statement was almost immediately contradicted by both the law’s co-sponsor and Russia’s Sports Minister, hence causing Rogge’s confusion. Well, that’s all been cleared up now with an official statement from the Interior Ministry:
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The law enforcement agencies can have no qualms with people who harbor a nontraditional sexual orientation and do not commit such acts [to promote homosexuality to minors], do not conduct any kind of provocation and take part in the Olympics peacefully. […]
Any discussion on violating the rights of representatives of nontraditional sexual orientations, stopping them from taking part in the Olympic Games or discrimination of athletes and guests of the Olympics according to their sexual orientation is totally unfounded and contrived.
Speaking with Ria Novosti, Alexander Zhukov, head of Russia’s National Olympic Committee, added that “People of nontraditional sexual orientations can take part in the competitions and all other events at the Games unhindered, without any fear for their safety whatsoever” as long as they don’t “put across” their views “in the presence of children.”
Well, that settles it. Attendees and athletes of the Sochi Olympics can be as gay as they want to, just no where near the vicinity of a child. And of course they’re nowhere to be found. Ever.
whatisthis
First of all, what the hell is a “nontraditional sexual orientation”? How does something biologically determined have a “tradition”?
I really sometimes question the sanity of anti-gay morons.
2eo
Don’t be afraid to post more absolutely spineless shows of support from athletes looking for quick exposure.
Spike
Might be interesting if those athletes who support equality regardless of sexual orientation were allowed to carry mini gay flags during the opening ceremony. If enough did, it could be rather ackard for he russians. I’m guessing many European athletes will do just that, the American athletes, probably not.
tookietookie
Johnny Weir is going to sooooo get arrested.
1EqualityUSA
The entire stadium should have a huge gay kiss-in. They can’t arrest everybody. This reminds me of a joke back in New York in the early eighties. What is a Russian Orchestra after it visits the U.S.? A Russian String Quartet. What a miserable lot!
???????
THEN NO ONE SHOULD GO THEN.OLYMPIC GAMES SHOULD BE HELD BY CIVILIZED COUNTRIES!!
Daniel-Reader
The Russian politicians delusionally think the rule of law is still being maintained in Russia (just like they thought before it broke apart last time). Do the math. Putin plus all Duma politicians equals less than 800 politicians, committing genocide against gay people who number more than 350 million, add in the families of gay people and you have more than 2 billion people who can make it their business to punish Putin and the other Russian politicians for their crimes. Politicians need you to capitulate to your own oppression for it to work because they cannot survive otherwise. The proper response to a politician committing genocide is only one question: why should the millions of people you have harmed let you go unpunished for mass human rights violations?
Brendan
I read an article with a suggestion for the best possible punishment for Russia – don’t boycott the Olympics (which just hurt ALL athletes) or boycott Russian vodka (which only punishes the people that make it, not the law enforcement or politicians enforcing these laws)… the IOC should ban ban Russia from competing in their own Winter Olympic Games. I think that’s what needs to be done here.