Christians Will Be Subject To Arrest At The 2014 Olympics In Russia.

[DonRedwood]

Black People Will Be Subject To Arrest At The 2014 Olympics In Russia.
Catholics Will Be Subject To Arrest At The 2014 Olympics In Russia.
Japanese People Will Be Subject To Arrest At The 2014 Olympics In Russia.
Chess Club Members Will Be Subject To Arrest At The 2014 Olympics In Russia.
Multi-Racial People Will Be Subject To Arrest At The 2014 Olympics In Russia.
Jews Will Be Subject To Arrest At The 2014 Olympics In Russia.
Americans Will Be Subject To Arrest At The 2014 Olympics In Russia.
The British Will Be Subject To Arrest At The 2014 Olympics In Russia.
Johnny Weir Will Be Subject To Arrest At The 2014 Olympics In Russia.
Olympians Will Be Subject To Arrest At The 2014 Olympics In Russia.

Gay People will be subject to arrest at the 2014 Olympics in Russia.

I have thought long and hard about this. I do not want to boycott the 2014 Olympics. The United States should not have to boycott the 2014 Olympics. The Russian Federation, by threatening to arrest all gay attendees of the Olympics (the legislator who wrote the law just came out saying all Olympic attendees showing gay support or who are gay, will be subject to arrest ), have disqualified themselves from holding the Olympics.

Let me make this clear. There are out athletes who are now subject to arrest. Johnny Weir, if he goes to Russia, will be arrested. Russia is clearly saying, "We will arrest and detain your athletes if we don't morally approve of them." How can a country with this attitude, with these laws, host an international sporting event.

Russia has disqualified itself.

The Olympic Committee is the one who should be boycotting Russia. Not individual countries, but the entire Olympic Organization needs to tell Russia, "Change the Law or Lose the Olympics."

CHANGE THE LAW OR LOSE THE OLYMPICS.

Communications Office for Olympic Team USA: 719-866-4529

[hrmjustin]

1. K&R!

[DonRedwood]

2. What do we do though? Start a petition? Send out the Olympics Email?

They need to hear from the people.

NBC needs to know that gay people won't watch the Olympics.

[hrmjustin]

5. I think Gay people in sports need to start talking about this. Gay trainers who will have to go to

Russia next year should speak up. There needs to be a grassroots campaign to make our voice heard on this.

[Shankapotomus]

125. Prepare a flash mob for the Olympics

Get as many people over there - gay, straight, bi, - to intentionally break the law so it's a total unmitigated nightmare and public relations disaster for Russia.

Even the threat if that happening may force the Russian government to reconsider the policy.

[Bluenorthwest]

3. Straight Society does not believe that oppression of LGBT people is the same as oppression of

those other groups. They don't. If any of those other things were true the games would already be cancelled.

[DonRedwood]

15. Can you type that in DU with a straight face?

Because these people have our backs buddy. One thing I am pretty damned sure of in this world.

[theHandpuppet]

64. You must be kidding

I see GLBT DUers slammed on these fora nearly every day and the issue of GLBT rights trivialized or ridiculed. Sure, there are plenty of straight DUers here who are our staunch and loyal allies, but there are others here who make our DU life a living hell and nothing is ever done about it -- mostly, I think, because some folks who aren't GLBT simply don't recognize the offenses for what they really are.

[Bluenorthwest]

84. I type that with a gay face.

Note, dear, dear brother, that my comment was about the dominate US society, not about DU. I did not say a fucking word about DU. You laid that on me as if it was some gravy you were pouring on a mediocre dish to make it seem more savory. Your tactic is dishonest.

[dbackjon]

97. No they don't.

The homophobia and lack of support on DU is rampant.

Always has been. Toned down a little, but has come roaring back.

Homophobes are protected here.

[Bluenorthwest]

119. I'm asking you to admit in writing that I said NOTHING about DU as you accused me of

I am sick of this 'put words in mouths' bullshit. You need to stop it.
Let me tell you this, Don. My post said the exact same thing your OP said. It was a strong agreement with what you posted, and you attacked me for it. I have no idea why, but it is wrong to do that. You did not even do it honestly.
I can't even believe your behavior here.

[pnwmom]

54. There is no such thing as "Straight Society" or "Gay Society."

There are educated people and there are bigots.

[theHandpuppet]

66. Not exactly.

If you are GLBT then you are a second class citizen in this country. It affects every part of your life in ways that many straight folks can't even imagine.

[pnwmom]

68. I agree that GLBT -- and their children, who lack the legal protections other children have --

are second class citizens.

But that doesn't contradict what I said. There is no "Straight Society" or "Gay Society." There are straight people, for example, who are the children or parents of gay people; and there are gay people who are Log Cabin Republicans.

[theHandpuppet]

73. When you have a country...

... in which its laws entitle one group and are punitive against or denied another, then at best you have a segregated society, It doesn't matter how those segregated groups operate within that parameter.

[pnwmom]

75. I agree that GLBT are second class citizens. But that doesn't mean that all straight people

or all gay people are the same.

[Bluenorthwest]

86. Gay society and staight society does not mean all gay or straight people are the same

It means straight society denies us rights in spite of all your differences and our rainbow nature.

[pnwmom]

89. The legal system denies GLBT people rights.

Not all straight people. There really isn't any such thing as a uniform anti-gay "straight society."

[Bluenorthwest]

120. Again, I did not say 'all' nor did I say 'uniform anti gay'. Those are your words, argue with

yourself about them. You and Don put too many words in my mouth in this thread. I note that if nothing else some society is having a big discussion about the pros and cons of the Russian law. 'It's only a 14 day detention!!!!!' What kind folks in whatever society they are in....

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

4. An alternative...

This could be Russian conservatives blowing smoke (a la American conservatives).

Let them have the Olympics, but if they enforce the law, then Russian athletes will be banned from the next two Olympic cycles (essentially two summer and two winter games).

Individual Russian athletes would, of course, have the option of competing under another flag. But Russia as a national team would be booted out until 2022.

[DonRedwood]

8. I'd like the athletes to NOT be punished.

I think I like this better:

Russia can compete but the games are chopped up and sent around the world to recent Olympic venues that could still handle a games. Skiing might be in Finland and sledding might be in Switzerland. Whatever. But show Russia that they will lose the games and they will get rid of their law pretty damned quickly.

Imagine the money spent on an Olympics that never happened....

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

21. That might be logistically and financially difficult...

Russia doesn't necessary have to "get rid of their law," as the Olympics should not be about dictating domestic issues in the host country. And it may be that the authorities have no intention of enforcing this law -- just grandstanding like the 39 Obamacare Repeals passed in the House.

I'm in favor of allowing the Russian government the opportunity to see where its interests lie, but punishing them if they don't behave.

[DonRedwood]

26. Yes, but if the law had been on the books they probably would not have been chosen

[pnwmom]

56. So we should wait till they abuse or imprison gay athletes -- insulting and denigrating gay people

isn't enough -- and then punish them in the future?

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

98. Typically you punish people AFTER they've done something wrong

I would give them the chance to understand the consequences of their actions and choose to not enforce the law.

[pnwmom]

99. They're already enacted a law that is wrong, and already threatened

to enforce it.

I don't think we should take it on faith that they'll choose not to enforce it, not when the well-being of our athletes is at stake.

[dbackjon]

100. So already arresting, beating and killing gays in Russia isn't wrong?

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

121. Not my country...

If they arrest or harass people who attend the Olympics, then the IOC should respond.

And I'm pretty sure gays in this country have been arrested beaten and killed.

[ohheckyeah]

16. If I were a gay athlete

I wouldn't be willing to take the chance that Russia won't enforce the law. It could be hell landing in a Russian prison.

[DonRedwood]

19. Johnny Weir's TV show is enough for him to go to jail....

gayest thing on TV ever.

My guess is he'd skate in a rainbow colored leotard....

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

23. Point well taken...

Even through the law apparently allows only a fourteen day detention and deportation, that would be the longest friggin' two weeks of your life.

[DonRedwood]

28. Russian prison in a rainbow colored leotard....

I shudder to think.

[ohheckyeah]

38. Truly - I guess

it could be worse - maybe if it were a Mexican prison.

This is so outrageous and unfair. It makes me sick what gay people have to endure. I can't even imagine how hellish it must be to be reviled and hated by so many people for nothing more than sexuality - something that doesn't affect the haters. It's just incomprehensible to me. What the hell is wrong with people?

[pnwmom]

55. "If" they enforce the law? You think we should take a chance with our athletes? n/t

[Bluenorthwest]

82. Did you read this:"the law apparently allows only a fourteen day detention and deportation"

If this law was about Christians or any of the groups the OP listed, the games would be cancelled, instead we get this: 'the law apparently allows only a fourteen day detention and deportation".
I rest my case. You claim we are equals in your society, but can you imagine reading that about any of the minorities listed in the OP? This is on DU. 'only a fourteen day detention'.
Whatever gets you all through the night, just tell yourselves that. It's not really like actual bigotry, it's just fourteen days, one little song, a short prayer....

[pnwmom]

90. Um . . . are you sure you meant to respond to me? I've said more than once

in a thread above that I think in the US GLBT are treated as second class citizens -- not that they're equal.

[MADem]

123. This ain't smoke--there are actual LAWS that are anti-GLBT on the books in that regime.

And Pootie has verbalized his anti-gay attitude, and his cronies have touted enforcement of the law.

Thugs beat up gay people for sport routinely. It's not regarded as a hate crime, it's not even punished.

They throw people in jail for being gay. They are insisting that the law won't apply to the visiting athletes--so I guess they're going to turn the Olympic Village into a "transit zone" where no Russian laws apply..??

Widely criticized laws recently passed in Russia that target the LGBT community have gained the attention of U.S. media and scrutiny has turned to how they will affect the 2014 Winter Olympics, which will take place in Sochi in February. The International Olympic Committee gained "assurance" from Russia that the laws – which among other things, ban the "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations" – would not be applied to the athletes and those visiting for the games, but LGBT groups are still not satisfied.

Last week, Human Rights Campaign president Chad Griffin wrote a letter to NBCUniversal, which will be broadcasting the Olympics, questioning how the network planned on covering the laws. NBC Sports Chairman Mark Lazarus was forced to address the issue Saturday at the Television Critics Association press tour.

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/07/30/russias-anti-gay-laws-become-a-part-of-the-olympic-narrative

[The Magistrate]

6. I Agree, Sir

[GlashFordan]

7. Untrue, again.

Maybe you're thinking of Qatar or Iran where it is literally illegal to be gay?

Russia has an anti-Gay Propaganda law. That law makes it illegal to publicly protest or demonstrate for gay rights. This means acts such as displaying a rainbow flag or overt public display of affection to make a political message is illegal.

Every one if these threads that claims "gays to be arrested in Russia" is a lie, sorry.

Example: if two straight people hold placards and rainbow flags in a public venue to gain media attention they will be arrested.

If two gay men share a hotel room and do whatever they wish to do there, there is no law broken.

[DonRedwood]

9. So my husband and I can hold hands and not be arrested?

The man who wrote the law came out today and said that people will be arrested for any show of homosexuality or showing any support of gay people.

Granny with a PFLAG T-Shirt, could be arrested.

And if Russia is saying it will happen, AND THEY ARE, then I think they are the experts on the subject of what they will do, not you.

I think you are a troll.

[Kurska]

11. Nope you can't, holding hands is apparently gay propaganda according to the law n/t

[GlashFordan]

13. Isn't that what I just said?

Overt displays for media consumption are illegal there.

As for me being a troll, read the DU ToS regarding accusing prople of that as an attempt to censor.

I'm correcting incorrect info being posted. Whats wrong with educated forum members? Hmmm?

[DonRedwood]

20. How about you quote the law and the men who wrote them.

fact vs. your fiction.

[GlashFordan]

25. My wife is Russian slick

I know all there is to know about the law. Translating Russian is not black/white . Tge law is about public demonstrations meant as a social protest. That's the truth. And in my opinion, discrete display of public attention will not be prosecuted. They are only going after people who plan to use the event as a platform for protesting Russian policy.

[Kurska]

31. Holding hands is a public social protest? Because the law explicility covers that.

STOP LYING.

[GlashFordan]

37. Thats what I said.

It is illegal by the letter of the law, yes. But personally i don't think they will enforce discrete PDA. Who is lying? Not I.

[Gravitycollapse]

39. No, you're definitely lying. It is illegal to identify as homosexual in Russia.

[Kurska]

42. Oh so it is illegal, but you don't "think" it will be enforced.

So you know that not only "Social policy protests" are illegal, but apparently don't care and continue to claim only those are illegal? Your justification of this is that you don't believe that such provisions will be enforced.

I totally believe that...........

not

Now that you have been caught in your lie, will you please stop lying?

[pnwmom]

57. Your personal assurance on this subject is worth exactly nothing.

Especially in the face of a legislator who is saying the opposite.

[hrmjustin]

112. What do you think of Gay marriage?

[7962]

88. Because you said something different, that makes you a "troll"

get used to it around here. A lot of people preaching tolerance have very little.

[Kurska]

10. Absolute BS, It makes it illegal to do or say ANYTHING positive about gay people

Imagine not even being able to say "gay people deserve equal right" without being subject to arrest, that is how broad this law is.
Even public displays of affection are covered by this law.

And gay tourists don't even have to do anything to be arrested and deported, they are deported simply for being gay.

No idea how someone is defending this homophobic bullshit on DU.

[GlashFordan]

17. Again not true

Simply "being gay" in Sochi will not get you a fine or arrest.

[DonRedwood]

22. Russian lawmaker: We will arrest gay athletes, tourists at Olympic Games

Here: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/russian-lawmaker-we-will-arrest-gay-athletes-tourists-olympic-games300713

Read some non-fiction

[GlashFordan]

27. That's inaccurate. Not what he said in Russian nt

[Bradical79]

49. So what did he say?

If they are reporting what he said incorrectly, then a correction is fine, but you haven't shown anything that has contradicted what is being reported.

[pnwmom]

53. Can you read Russian?

http://americablog.com/2013/07/russian-official-pro-gay-sochi-olympics-athletes-guests-face-arrest.html
In a disturbing development, a Russian lawmaker responsible for writing the St. Petersburg version of the new nationwide law that bans anything perceived as pro-gay in that country, said yesterday that the Russian government had no right to promise the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that the law would not be enforced against Olympic athletes and guests.
SNIP
The IOC had hoped to allay growing concerns over the possible arrest of, and violence towards, gay and gay-friendly Olympic athletes and guests by assuring the world last week that the Russians had granted an exemption to the anti-gay for Olympic attendees. Of course, even were such an exemption real – and we now know that it is not – the Russians can give no credible assurances that the anti-gay skinhead thugs that they’ve enabled won’t beat gay Olympic athletes and Olympic visitors to a bloody pulp.
SNIP
The International Olympic Committee, in what appears to be a growing panic over the deteriorating human rights, and safety, situation in Russia, has now issued a public letter stating that it is “engaged in active discussion” to secure the safety of Olympic athletes and guests during the Sochi Olympics.

But as noted above, such assurances are meaningless unless the IOC has suddenly found the power to strike down Russian federal law, and control the country’s anti-gay neo-Nazi thugs.

[GlashFordan]

58. That agrees with everything I have said.

The law is about public protest as a social challenge to Russian tradition.

Holding hands, for example can be a public protest. Holding hands can also be a tender gesture between loving partners. They have specifically identified holding hands as being a trigger.

This gives police authority to differentiate between 2 people in a cafe enjoying a coffee and 2 people holding hands in front if tv cameras protesting Russian national policy.

[pnwmom]

60. No, it doesn't. Olympic athletes should be free to hold hands if they want to

in front of TV cameras, and if Russia insists otherwise, we should be boycotting the Olympics.

[GlashFordan]

63. Then support a boycott. nt

[Kurska]

30. Stop lying

"Travel site Skift reports that the new law, signed into law by Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 30, contains a provision that allows the government to arrest and detain gay (or "pro-gay&quot foreigners for up to 14 days before they would then be expelled from Russia."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/11/russia-gay-law-tourists-_n_3581217.html

[GlashFordan]

41. I've already defined the law accurately.

It's NOT illegal to be gay in Russia.

And they have a bit of flexibility to judge what is a "social protest" and what is two people holding hands at a cafe.

[Kurska]

44. What a joke

"It's NOT illegal to be gay in Russia." Nah it just illegal to live anything remotely close to a happy and open life. I'm sure if gay people crawl back under the rock they came out from and stop bothering all those good straight people with their mere existence they'll be left alone, probably



Oh and gay tourists can be arrested and deported SIMPLY for being gay. So yeah, it is actually illegal to be gay in Russia.

I'm not sure if you genuinely uninformed, but now that you have been can you please stop spreading falsehoods (lying)?

[GlashFordan]

48. Post it 7 times you're still wrong.

The law specifically refers to gay protest/demonstration. That is a fact. You may not like it, but it's a fact. Stop accusing me of lying.

[Kurska]

50. If you want me to stop accusing you of lying, I suggest you start by not lying anymore.

It also specifically refers to HOLDING HANDS and is already being used to harass gay people who were never even involved in any kind of protest or demonstration.

Tourists can also be arrested and deported JUST for being gay.

Maybe I'll try this.

Could you pretty please stop lying on du?

[bunnies]

67. Right.

Its just illegal to be gay in public, in Russia. Is that somehow not as bad?

[maui902]

102. Link you cited and additional links in cited article support position that law was intended to ban

Gay propaganda. Based on what you've cited, reasonable minds could differ, so accusing the poster you're responding to of lying seems off base. If you think the poster's position is wrong, so be it. But just because he takes the position that the law was intended to cover any public display of support for gay rights, which the article you cited seems to support, doesn't make the poster a liar-no matter how wrong you think his position might be.

[DonRedwood]

12. and those two gay men, what if one has to go to the hospital. Can the other visit?

Are their rings enough of a statement to be arrested?

Can their marriage paperwork, used to try to gain access to a hospital room statement enough for arrest?

If they are robbed and cry and hug later in front of the police can they be arrested?

If they pose for a picture but touch and look too gay can they be arrested?

What if they just look really gay? That is enough in Russia right now to be brutalized and beaten. You just have to look pretty gay.

[justiceischeap]

14. It is literally illegal for my partner and I to go to Russia and hold hands

or kiss. Straight people can travel to Russia, hold hands and kiss and not fear arrest. However, if I do the same, as a lesbian, I will be arrested.

[GlashFordan]

18. Thats true, in public.

It's a different culture with different laws. I think it's unfair too, but I'm not Russian so I have no effect on the law.

[DonRedwood]

24. No, you just defend those same laws.

I spent a month in the soviet union and was followed almost the entire time. Twice maids unlocked the doors and walked into my room in the middle of the day. There is no such thing as a private place in a police system.

That was the soviet union....of course. But I have no doubt those things still happen.

[GlashFordan]

29. Then don't go there.

I wouldn't visit Egypt right now or Dubai.

[DonRedwood]

33. The whole point is....Olympians are supposed to go everywhere. Not be terrified to compete

in the Olympics.

It is against the nature of the games.

[GlashFordan]

43. Why would they be terrified?

Will gay soccer players be terrified at the World Cup in Qatar? Security will be heavy, there won't be bigoted thugs roaming the Olympic village looking for people to harass.

[Kurska]

45. Maybe they should be terrified of the roaving bands of skinheads kidnapping and torturing gay youth?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/26/russian-nazi-torture-gay-teens_n_3658636.html

Russia, what a paradise of tolerance

[Gravitycollapse]

51. This is like a more extreme form of Don't Ask Don't Tell.

A person's sexual identity is private and public. To ban one part is to effectively hinder the other. So it is obvious that being gay in Russia, at least in the states that have enacted these bans, is illegal.

[GlashFordan]

62. The US has a worse record

See Matthew Shepherd.

[pnwmom]

69. It's worse in Russia because the violence against Shepherd wasn't state sponsored or sanctioned.

There are plenty of Matthew Shepherds in Russia, however, beaten by gangs of thugs.

[stevenleser]

70. That's extremely dishonest. Private people commit heinous crimes all the time. This is a state issue

The state in Russia is the one coming down on LGBT people and those who protest on their behalf, not some local bigots like the ones who killed Matthew Shepard.

[tkmorris]

78. That is just plain not true.

[7962]

96. OK, now you've lost me after that one

The Shepherd case made national news for days and disgusted most everyone. And the perps went to jail.

[Kurska]

35. I don't want to visit the anti-gay fascist police state of Russia either.

There is going to be massive Olympic blowback over this, no matter how hard people continue to lie about this law.

[pnwmom]

52. This isn't just a personal issue. The whole US Olympic team needs to not go there.

They should boycott the Olympics just as if Russia announced they would arrest any person of African descent, or any woman, or any Jewish person.

[GlashFordan]

59. Not defending, defining. nt

[dbackjon]

105. yes you are. You are defending anti-gay STATE POLICY

You are a pro-Russian, anti-gay - why are you here?

[GlashFordan]

110. Bullshit

I'm as pro-gay rights as any. I believe in and support right to marry, right to live and right to legal protections here in the US.

But Russia is not the US. The Russian people by a sizable majority do not support gay rights like we do here in the US.

But the ONLY reason I posted here was because false stories are being circulated that Russia is planning on arresting all gay people in Sochi who come to the Olympics. That, of course... Is nonsense.

They have an anti-gay propaganda law (their name, not mine)

The law is written to prohibit public protest that can include demonstrations and PDA.

That is a fact, no matter how many people call me a liar or say stupid things, magistrate.

It sucks. I wish Russia was as tolerant as most Americans but they're not. But it's their country and their law.

Mic-drop.

[dbackjon]

113. And you have been shown that you are WRONG.

[Gravitycollapse]

34. You cannot divide public and private sexuality. It is collectively a persons sexual/social identity.

To be banned from practicing some form of one's identity, the identity is effectively illegal.

[Gravitycollapse]

32. Such a rosy picture you paint. It is illegal to be gay in Russia.

Precisely because part of being a sexual being is expressing your sexuality publicly, in many ways. A kiss, holding hands, telling someone "this is my partner," holding a rainbow flag. Doing whatever it is someone does during an average day is potentially illegal. Thus, it is in fact illegal to be gay in Russia.

And your apologist rhetoric is neither accurate nor wanted.

[GlashFordan]

46. Disagree

This is about public protest, not public actions. Raising a flag is obviously public protest. And like I said, I don't think that discrete PDA will be prosecuted. Thats not what the law intends to block.

[Gravitycollapse]

47. The law is intended to marginalize gay public sexual identity.

And to marginalize the public form of identity by making it illegal is to make the identity itself illegal.

It is illegal to be gay in Russia.

[AngryOldDem]

77. You keep saying "I don't think"...

Unless you know for sure, then your opinion isn't exactly valid -- you don't know how the Russian authorities will treat this.

What constitutes the difference "public protest" vs. "discrete displays of affection" in an obviously totalitarian and oppressive society? Probably not much.

[The Magistrate]

80. And He Does Not, Sir: Only Honest Words He Has Said In The Thread

[nomorenomore08]

83. Why are you so insistent on splitting hairs? That seems to be the real problem.

[The Magistrate]

87. Perhaps An Old Rhyme Holds The Answer, Sir....

"Troll sat alone on a bench of stone
Gnawing and gnumbling an old dead bone."

[nomorenomore08]

94. See, I can understand the general impulse to be a contrarian.

But when the issue at hand is this serious, it really gives the appearance of belittling things.

[dbackjon]

106. Yes, yes he is

Read the rest of his 154 posts.

[In_The_Wind]

36. Total BS

[n2doc]

76. Russian lawmaker: We will arrest gay athletes, tourists at Olympic Games

30 JULY 2013 | BY JOE MORGAN

A Russian lawmaker has said the ‘gay propaganda’ law will remain enforced during the Sochi Winter Olympic Games in 2014.

Vitaly Milonov, co-sponsor of the ‘non-traditional relationships’ bill, said the government cannot decide when to selectively enforce the law.

It comes as the International Olympic Committee said the Russian government had ‘assured’ them all athletes and spectators will be safe from arrest.

Speaking to Interfax and as translated by GSN, Milonov said: ‘I have not heard any comments from the government of the Russian Federation but I know it is acting in accordance with Russian law.

- See more at: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/russian-lawmaker-we-will-arrest-gay-athletes-tourists-olympic-games300713
3

[Sheepshank]

40. Could Snowden hurry and make some files

and expose specifically who the Russians are targeting, what information they are using to target individuals, what specific infractions are indicated that would lead to an arrest, to include who it is that will be doing the watching, and how the Olympic Committee is dealing with this?

Thanks.


OTOH, never mind. Snowden likely doesn't want to rock the boat of another government. A Country that is being led by the noblest of leaders, Putin. You know he may need a fvor or two from that great nation...a nation that doesn't deserve it's internal database hacked and sprewed out all over the world...or to China.

[bunnies]

61. I think we should have rainbows on ALL of our athletes uniforms.

Go ahead an arrest the entire US Olympic team. Go ahead. See what happens.

[OldEurope]

65. The Olympic Committee is not going to boycott any country with a fat purse.

Olympic games are now just big business, as are other sports events. They do not care about anything than their own wallets.
That Athlete's Oath is ridiculous, as is the idea that the youth of the world is happily competing without doping.

[DinahMoeHum]

91. True enough. The IOC has never met a repressive regime it didn't like.

The holdovers from former fascist regimes still hold court in Lausanne.

[backscatter712]

117. Why do you think they still have all the ritual, pomp and circumstance around the torch?

Where did the Olympic Torch relay first get introduced? Oh yeah, Munich, Nazi Germany, 1936.

[OldEurope]

128. No. 1936 was not Munich, it was Berlin.

Munich was 1972. Maybe one of the last ones that were not compeletely commercialised.
We were so happy to show the world that Germans were no longer a threat.

And then came the terrorists.

[gollygee]

71. I agree 100%

If they don't want gay people in their country, they don't want the Olympics in their country. Shut them down if you can't just move them. This is a huge deal and there is no excuse to just go along with it IMO.

[stevenleser]

72. I agree. I'm trying to decide how best for me personally to act on this.

I may contact some friends here in the LGBT group privately.

[pnwmom]

74. More information on this here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/30/russia-anti-gay-olympic-games-sochi_n_3676311.html?ir=Gay+Voices

Despite assurance by the International Olympic Committee July 26 that attendees of the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi would not be held under the jurisdiction of Russia's anti-gay legislation, the law's co-sponsor is now articulating a different set of circumstances. Vitaly Milonov, the politician responsible for the "gay propaganda" ban in St. Petersburg later adopted by the country as a whole, claims that the law cannot be selectively enforced nor suspended.

In an interview with Interfax, Milonov stated:

I haven’t heard any comments from the government of the Russian Federation, but I know that it is acting in accordance with Russian law. And if a law has been approved by the federal legislature and signed by the president, then the government has no right to suspend it. It doesn’t have the authority.
In effect, it seems as if foreign athletes and spectators at the 2014 Olympic Games will, in fact, be subject to the legalities of Russia's recent stream of anti-LGBT legislation. Signed into law by President Vladimir Putin on June 30, the legislation gives the Russian government agency to detain gay or "pro-gay" foreigners up to 14 days before facing expulsion from the country.

SNIP

[Ford_Prefect]

79. Seems rather explicit as to intent and anticipates any kind of behavior covered in the law.

I am surprised that the I.O.C. has not confronted them about this as it violates specific provisions of the agreement to hold the games in Russia.

I also expect that many sponsors would find it very objectionable.

[DeSwiss]

81. Fucking-A!!!

K&R

[another_liberal]

92. What is your source?

Pardon me for saying so, but this sounds like an absolutely wacko report. Russia would never screw over its own Olympics like this. Simply unbelievable.

[dbackjon]

107. It has been all over the news

Read entire thread for links.

[another_liberal]

108. That they are planning to arrest gay and Christian Olympic participants?

I have not seen that, and it still sounds unbelievable.

[dbackjon]

109. Not Christian - the OP was using that as an example of the outrage that would happen if

Russia had anti-Christian laws like it has anti-gay laws.


And yes, if gay athletes don't hide their gayness, they can be arrested.

[another_liberal]

111. Highly dubious, to say the least.

Russia would never screw up their own Olympics that way. It is far too big of an opportunity to showcase their country. They may well arrest every gay Russian in Moscow, sure, but the Olympic participants will be quite safe from prosecution.

I don't know why you're trying to ride this angle, but it is silly to do so, and it shows.

[dbackjon]

115. What angle? Human Rights? You think Gay Rights are silly?

When the sponsor of the law that passed said, yes, it would apply to gay athletes and tourists in Sochi, what angle?

[another_liberal]

126. I am a supporter of equal rights for all people, everywhere.

What I was ridiculing was your insistence that Russian authorities would wreck their own Olympics by prosecuting foreign participants who are (or seem to be) gay. The fact that some homophobic Duma member says that is what the Russian authorities will do means no more than when some hick Congressman from Bugtussle, Alabama says the United States will jail all abortion providers; in fact, it means even less. President Putin is firmly in control of Russia's internal policies. The Duma does not give orders to Russian authorities, unless Putin approves the orders first. When he says they are going to arrest gay Olympians, then I will believe it.

The "angle" I was referring to is your motive for trying to create heightened fear among gay athletes in regard to next year's Winter Olympics. These are young people who have trained long and hard for a chance to represent their country at one of the World's premiere sporting events. Does trying to scare them into not competing really serve their best interests, or the interests of the LGBT rights movement?

[dbackjon]

93. Olympics should be moved.

Vancouver - take over!

[Notafraidtoo]

95. The lady told me they have heard about this.

And than she gave me a email address to voice my concerns.

[e-mail]

[treestar]

103. They should be subject to boycott

by all decent countries. The athletes should get a chance to compete elsewhere.

They could have them in 2016 - they used to be both summer and winter in the same year anyway. And limit to countries that are not likely to make such laws (or show others the international community does not take kindly to such laws).

[mitchtv]

104. rock the boat

boycott, disrupt,delay. sorry to tell our resident straight troll. They will arrest for whatever the fuck they please."I think they will'.Mock the Russians mercilessly. I hope our Gay Russian activists continue to display the same bravely they are famous for.

[LittleBlue]

114. But I love mens figure skating!

We'll have to cancel the whole competition


Seriously though, agree with you Don. The minimum that Russia must do is ensure that these medieval laws won't be enforced during the Olympics. Otherwise, the Olympic committee should yank the games and give it to another country.

K&R


Edit- Wanted to add, the Olympic committee must surely have been aware of this, as Russia is well known for homophobia. Also they have extreme problems with racism. These are Russian fans portraying black football players as monkeys, throwing bananas on the pitch and hooting. They even abuse their own players.

[backscatter712]

116. The Olympics have been a shit-show for decades.

I didn't like the Beijing Olympics, nor did I care for the London Olympics. Sochi's no different.

Every single god-damned one of them is primarily a propaganda venue for the powerful nations, especially the host nation, to shill themselves to the world and try to bamboozle the masses into thinking their shit doesn't stink.

But we can watch the circus performers, I mean athletes!

[DonCoquixote]

118. We should not just wait for them to harass

We should outright ban now. If a place like Salt Lake City can realize that they need to put down the bigotry until the Olympic trucks go out of town, so can mother Russia. Yes, I know Salt lake City is not as Redneck as it used to be, but their Olympics was run by Mitt Romney, who staffed it with Mormons. I am sure Mitt would have loved to put a few figure skaters in handcuffs, but even HE knew better that that, and that is saying a LOT.

[Cha]

122. So the only one who wouldn't be subject to

arrest is Edward Snowden?

"Change the Law or Lose the Olympics."

And, they damn well better hurry up and do it.

[davidpdx]

124. The Olympic Committee made a grave mistake giving the Olympics to Russia

Last edited Thu Aug 1, 2013, 10:15 AM - Edit history (2)

They beat out Pyeongchang (South Korea) who will host the 2018 Winter Olympics by four votes. Russia has been a hero to many on DUers over the last month, now they are seeing their evil side. It doesn't look all happy joy joy so much anymore does it? They aren't the beacon of freedom some made them out to be. Where are all those people who were cheering Russia?

*crickets*

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

127. ^^This^^

It was a bad idea from the get-go to award Russia the Olympics. Putin was former KGB, for cripes sake. We've known the guy was a bad seed for nearly twenty years.