Russian Sports Minister Says Anti-LGBT Law Will Be Enforced During Olympics

[DriftingCrow]

http://www.buzzfeed.com/chrisgeidner/russian-sports-minister-says-anti-lgbt-law-will-be-enforced
Source: BuzzFeed Author: Chris Geidner

"Contradicting a statement put out last week by the International Olympic Committee, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko told R-Sport Thursday that Russia's anti-LGBT propaganda law would remain in effect during the Sochi Olympics in February 2014. "No one is forbidding an athlete with non-traditional sexual orientation from coming to Sochi, but if he goes onto the street and starts propagandizing it, then of course he will be held accountable," Mutko told R-Sport."

A week ago, the International Olympics Committee was told by Russian authorities that the anti-LGBT laws would not be in affect those attending or participating in the games. Under the laws, foreigners found to be promoting "non-traditional" sexual orientations among minors could spend 15 days in prison and be fined -- promotion can simply be a conversation about homosexuality. The Human Rights Campaign says that LGBTs who attend the Olympics will be in harm's way.

[DriftingCrow]

Senate Resolution Will Call On Olympics Officials To Oppose Russia's Anti-LGBT Law
http://www.buzzfeed.com/chrisgeidner/senate-resolution-will-call-on-olympics-officials-to-oppose
Author: Chris Geidner Source: BuzzFeed

"Sen. Jeff Merkley will introduce the resolution. The measure will call on the International Olympic Committee to oppose Russia's anti-LGBT propaganda law and protect athletes and spectators from discrimination at the Winter Olympics. [. . . ] The resolution will ask the IOC both to oppose the law itself and to receive a guarantee that athletes and spectators will not be discriminated against on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity at the Sochi Winter Olympics, Merkley spokesman Jamal Raad said."

[DriftingCrow]

Gay Rights Group Calls For The International Olympic Committee To Condemn Russia's Anti-Gay Laws
http://www.buzzfeed.com/lilyhiottmillis/all-out-calls-for-the-international-olympic-committee-to-con
Author: Lily Hiott-Millis Source: BuzzFeed

The LGBT human rights group All Out has delivered a petition with over 300,000 signatures to the International Olympic Committee."Specifically, the petition asks "the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to condemn Russia's anti-gay law before the Olympic Games, denounce the laws and urged Russia to ensure the security of all visitors, athletes and Russian people, before, during, and after the Games." "

" The IOC has already asked the Russian government to suspend the laws for two weeks, said Banks, but that's not good enough. "You can't relax these laws for two weeks and then have the world walk away with some of the most abusive laws on the books." And All Out won't stop here. "We are going to take this directly to the Russian government, and we're going to call on the companies that are sponsoring the Olympics and broadcasting the Olympics." "

The petition is open for signing via the link provided in the article.

[DriftingCrow]

Obama Says He Has "No Patience" For Anti-LGBT Laws Or Poor Treatment At Olympics
http://www.buzzfeed.com/chrisgeidner/obama-says-he-has-no-patience-for-anti-lgbt-laws-or-poor-tre
Author: Chris Geidner Source: BuzzFeed


President Obama said Tuesday [on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno] he has "no patience" for anti-LGBT laws like those recently passed in Russia and said he believes Russian officials understand that "for most of the countries that participate in the Olympics, we wouldn't tolerate gays and lesbians being treated differently."

Obama's statements came after Jay Leno compared Russia's treatment of LGBT individuals with the beginning on anti-Semetic laws/treatment in Nazi Germany.

[Jamie D]

http://www.buzzfeed.com/chrisgeidner/russian-sports-minister-says-anti-lgbt-law-will-be-enforced
Source: BuzzFeed Author: Chris Geidner

"Contradicting a statement put out last week by the International Olympic Committee, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko told R-Sport Thursday that Russia's anti-LGBT propaganda law would remain in effect during the Sochi Olympics in February 2014. "No one is forbidding an athlete with non-traditional sexual orientation from coming to Sochi, but if he goes onto the street and starts propagandizing it, then of course he will be held accountable," Mutko told R-Sport."

A week ago, the International Olympics Committee was told by Russian authorities that the anti-LGBT laws would not be in affect those attending or participating in the games. Under the laws, foreigners found to be promoting "non-traditional" sexual orientations among minors could spend 15 days in prison and be fined -- promotion can simply be a conversation about homosexuality. The Human Rights Campaign says that LGBTs who attend the Olympics will be in harm's way.

Sports and politics are poor bedfellows.  There should be an international boycott of the Sochi Olympics, for the purpose of human rights.

[justmeinoz]

It looks as if I won't be paying it a lot of attention then.

[Ltl89]

Putin 101, ignore the real issues and use hot button topics to gather hateful support.  Case in point, the anti gay and immigrant sentiment that he propagates and feeds off of. 

[~RoadToTrista~]

Is it as bad as that lady farther down the article makes it out to be? Where they could go to jail for 15 days just for hugging someone of the same sex? (You know how much hugging they do in the Olympics, especially shirtless hugging)

Otherwise I wouldn't really care tbh.

[DriftingCrow]

Yes Trista, it's that bad.

You might want to check out:

Dutch Tourists Jailed Under Russia's 'Gay Propaganda' Law
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/22/dutch-tourists-jailed-russia-gay_n_3635803.html
Source: Huffington Post Author:  Cavan Sieczkowski

Four Dutch tourists have been jailed under Russia's "gay propaganda" law after they were suspected of promoting homosexuality to children.

36 Photos From Russia That Everyone Needs To See  **photos depict violence**
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/photos-from-russia-everyone-needs-to-see
Source: BuzzFeed Author: Matt Stopera

Gay activists get detained after being attacked at pride events.

Russians Are Using Social Media To Lure In And Publicly Humiliate Gay Men **violent photos**
http://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanhatesthis/russians-are-using-social-media-to-lure-in-and-publicly-humi
Author: Ryan Broderick Source: BuzzFeed

In a movement, started by a Russian Neo-Nazi group, called "Occupy Pedophilia" Russians lure gays by creating fake personal ads online. When the gays go to meet them, they attack them and post photos of them on the internet.

[~RoadToTrista~]

Ugh, Russia's terrible. I'm reminded more of how much racial hate crimes are ignored there as well.

[TiaNadiezja]

Of course it will be.  The Russian government is really, really serious about trying to somehow wipe out homosexuality within the nation, as if that were either possible or a good idea.  Standing back and watching thousands of LGBT foreigners be themselves while visiting would be unacceptable to them.

And that's going to be a rather huge international incident.  Imagine them arresting American or British citizens during the Olympics, and what that would lead to.