IOC may join Russia in Anti-gay policies

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Huffington Post

International Olympic Committee May Join Russia in Punishing Gay Athletes
Posted: 08/12/2013 4:45 pm
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Between the Stoli boycott and statements from athletes around the world with regard to next year's Winter Olympics and Russia's new, draconian anti-gay laws, most of you know what's been going on. For those who don't, the short version is this: Earlier this year, Russia passed some horrifically anti-gay laws that make it illegal to "promote" homosexuality. Apparently you can be gay, but you just can't ever tell anyone about it for fear that you'll be reported and go to prison. These laws have given cover to neo-Nazi groups and others who take the law into their own hands by beating and murdering any person they think doesn't measure up to their standard of heterosexuality.

Many have called on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to make strong statements against these laws, and some have even called for them to move the 2014 Winter Olympics from Sochi, Russia, to a place that is more accepting of all athletes. The IOC responded by declaring that they'd spoken to Russian authorities and had been assured that Olympic athletes and fans would be exempt from the anti-gay laws while in Sochi. Not so fast, responded Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko, who made it clear that Olympic athletes and fans would have to respect the host country's bigoted laws. And today, Russia's Interior Ministry stated unequivocally that the anti-gay laws will be enforced during the Olympic Games in Sochi.

This game of media ping-pong has left Olympic participants without any actual information regarding the situation in Russia. The truth of the matter is that no matter what kinds of assurances the IOC makes, LGBT people are not welcome or safe in Russia. The IOC can say whatever they want to, but it will not stop some Russian thug in a bar from kidnapping, beating and potentially murdering someone he perceives as gay.

Gay Star News asked the IOC what they thought about plans for athletes to wear rainbow pins or hold hands during the opening and closing ceremonies. They also asked if the IOC would provide a safe space -- or Pride House -- for LGBT athletes, spectators, dignitaries and others during the Games, to celebrate gay sport and community, as has been done in previous years. The IOC's spokesperson replied, "[T]he IOC has a clear rule laid out in the Olympic Charter (Rule 50) which states that the venues of the Olympic Games are not a place for proactive political or religious demonstration. This rule has been in place for many years and applied when necessary." Indeed, Rule 50 of the IOC's charter states, "No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas."

So instead of actually standing up for LGBT athletes, the IOC is essentially siding with Russia and issuing a warning to lesbian and gay athletes. The IOC has made it clear that they have a double standard when it comes to accepting all athletes. The Pride House in Vancouver was historic in that it provided a safe space for LGBT athletes from around the world. The IOC clearly didn't see this as a violation of Rule 50 a few years ago, but it seems as though athletes must now be forced to step back into the closet for the 2014 Winter Olympics.

If the Olympics remain in Sochi, LGBT athletes are automatically at a disadvantage. It's really hard to perform to one's full capabilities when one is spending part or most of the day in actual fear for his or her life. Gay New Zealand speedskater Blake Skjellerup told USA Today, "I don't want to have to tone myself down about who I am. That wasn't very fun and there's no way I'm going back in the closet. I just want to be myself and I hate to think that being myself would get me in trouble." I don't think you'll find a single athlete out there who'd disagree with the notion that you perform better when you don't have to hide who you are. In fact, many said as much when basketball player Jason Collins came out last year.

At this point, I can't imagine that there is anything that the IOC can say to actually ensure the safety of Olympic participants or fans, whether it be from the Russian government itself or from vigilantes who are rarely if ever prosecuted for their crimes against LGBT people. While boycotts and news stories have been effective at getting the word out about the atrocities being carried out against LGBT people in Russia, none of this will actually make anyone safer in Russia. And none of it will stop LGBT athletes from constantly having to look over their shoulders as they compete for Olympic gold.

Google

Russia warns gays to 'obey law' in Sochi

(AFP) – Aug 1, 2013

MOSCOW — Gay athletes are welcome to participate in Russia's 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi but must obey a new law banning "homosexual propaganda", the country's sports minister said Thursday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin in June signed into law legislation that punishes the dissemination of information about homosexuality to minors but which activists say can be used for a broad crackdown against gays.

The comments by Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko appear to contradict assurances from the International Olympic Committee last week that no athlete attending the games would be targeted by the law.

"The law talks not about banning a non-traditional orientation but about other things, about propaganda and implicating minors," Mutko told the R-Sport news agency.

"No one is banning a sportsman with a non-traditional sexual orientation from going to Sochi. But if he goes out onto the street and starts to make propaganda, then of course he will be brought to responsibility.

"As a sportsman, he should respect the law of a country," Mutko added. "Come (to Sochi), but don't get young people involved, don't make propaganda. This is what we are talking about."

Foreigners found guilty of violating the law can not only be fined up to 5,000 rubles ($156, 114 euros) but face administrative arrest of up to 15 days and eventual deportation.

Russian officials rarely use words like "gay" and "homosexual" and prefer to use the phrase "non-traditional sexuality" to describe same-sex love.

The law has aroused concerns among activists about whether Russia is fit to host the Games, the biggest sporting event it has held in its post-Soviet history, and even calls for a Cold War-style boycott.

Mutko's comments infuriated activists, coming after the IOC said last week it had received assurances at the "highest level" within the Russian government that the legislation would not affect those attending the games.

"Russian sports minister confirmed gay propaganda law WILL be applied at Olympics in Sochi! As I said Russian guarantees to IOC are b(expletive)!" leading Russian gay rights activist Nikolai Alexeyev fumed on Twitter.

Gay activists have also been calling for a boycott of Russian vodka, whose brands have traditionally been popular in gay clubs.

Meanwhile a hashtag #BoycottRussia has become increasingly popular on Twitter and promoted by prominent figures, including the British actor Stephen Fry.

Russia last week banned four Dutch nationals from entering the country for three years after accusing them under the controversial new law of spreading of "gay propaganda" to minors.

Anyone think the IOC will actually do anything about this?

[Borgholio]

Nope. IOC are a bunch of pussies.

[Sharp-kun]

What can the IOC do that is practical? I'd imagine it's too late to move it without causing all sorts of issues and I don't think they want to run in a country while telling participants to break the law, wrong as it may be.

Best thing is for athletes and spectators to speak out by boycotting it. Let the games flop and be an embarrassment to Russia.

[Irbis]

You know, that law is certainly disgusting, but as far as I am aware, despite sensationalist tone of the first article, killings and kidnappings are still illegal in Russia.

Another thing that is pure baseless scaremongering is this bit: "At this point, I can't imagine that there is anything that the IOC can say to actually ensure the safety of Olympic participants or fans, whether it be from the Russian government itself or from vigilantes who are rarely if ever prosecuted for their crimes against LGBT people." Yeah, it's not like athletes will be in heavily guarded Olympic Village, probably the most heavily defended place in Russia in 2014, and not like Putin is personally making sure nothing disrupts the Olympics, certainly not a scandal that would erupt after arresting a competitor.

Please, since when allowing LGBT space on Olympics equals boycotting host country if its laws are not 200% LGBT compliant? "The IOC clearly didn't see this as a violation of Rule 50 a few years ago" - yes, it would be nice if Russia did that, too, but it was pure goodwill from organizers, not a mandatory thing. The IOC had always been apolitical.

And one last thing, what this article skipped is that law doesn't forbid promotion of homosexuality in general, but among the minors. Yes, it's fig leaf, just like that German law forbidding anti-religious speech 'when possibly upsetting public order', and when prosecutors want to get someone, they will dig "affected minor" somehow, but non-sensationalist journalist would at least mention that in passing first instead of promoting false image. Discriminatory laws are disgusting as it is, no need to colour the truth to try and drum up more support.

[K. A. Pital]

Discriminatory laws are disgusting as it is, no need to colour the truth to try and drum up more support.

Actually the problem is that in the bizarre world of Russian lawmaking, promoting homosexuality in public media (TV show, blog, public interview) is already affecting minors since public media are accessible to minors. Just so you know that there's absolutely no need for them to dig out "affected minors" - they tried to ban public ads because they could be seen by minors. Like in the case of the German GEZ, which takes money from the blind and the deaf for having the chance to see or hear part of a TV translation, there's no need for an actual event. The mere possibility of a minor being affected is enough.

[Serafina]

You know, that law is certainly disgusting, but as far as I am aware, despite sensationalist tone of the first article, killings and kidnappings are still illegal in Russia.

Sure it is. On paper.
In practice, there are almost daily incidents where LGBT-people are publicly assaulted, dragged in front of a camera and forced to "confess their crimes" (of being gay), with at least one death resulting from such actions. The individuals responsible aren't properly - or at all - persecuted by the responsible authorities.

You are blatantly ignoring the actual situation in Russia and making excuses for them.
That it's "only" illegal if minors are affected is irrelevant - you even say yourself that this part is just a smokescreen. In effect, it outlaws being gay just as much as banning displays of religiosity would ban religion. Sure, you could still hold whatever belief you want inside your head, but it doesn't matter much if you can get arrested for even saying Amen.

LGBT-people are ultimately a minority. A minority needs a lobby and support-structure to make sure their rights aren't violated, and that they have protection from bigots. Outlawing the support structure means removing those - and with the current politics in Russia, even generic anti-violence laws offer no protection because they are ignored by local authorities.


Also, i resent the notion that this is comparable to german public-peace laws. Those are used very differently in practice - you can hold religious rallies and counter-rallies in Germany, or otherwise exercise your free speech. What's illegal is trying to create a public climate thats hostile towards other groups - precisely the thing that's currently happening in Russia with its anti-LGBT laws and politics.

[K. A. Pital]

The individuals responsible aren't properly - or at all - persecuted by the responsible authorities.

To be frank, even if you murder a trade union leader it is also highly unlikely you'll be prosecuted. So it is just par the course. There's an even lesser incentive to investigate these crimes since lynch mobs are seen by the police as a 'vox populi vox dei' type of thing, something you don't really want to meddle with.

What's illegal is trying to create a public climate thats hostile towards other groups - precisely the thing that's currently happening in Russia with its anti-LGBT laws and politics.

However weird it sounds, Russian government uses the exact same logic. It considers believers a minority that requires protection from people who offend their beliefs. That is, outspoken gays and outspoken atheists. So you can still be an atheist or a gay, but not an outspoken one. Because you offend religious guys, who are poor and suffering and need the Big Club of the State to put folks that publicly say "There's no God" or stage art performances that insult believers to prison. Gays can be gay, but if they openly say gayness is okay, this means they are also offending believers. And minors! Gotta protect those minors, they are a vulnerable minority, as we all know.

In the end there's a really crazy culture of saying that this is done in the name of protecting society's most vulnerable.

[wautd]

Anyone think the IOC will actually do anything about this?

Nah, they'll take the money over their supposed values

[energiewende]

I'm not sure this is a fair characterisation. While arresting IOC members/raiding IOC property would be embarrassing, the IOC is not exempted from Russian laws and can't choose to ignore them with impunity. And this is afterall Russia, so they'd do it even though it's embarrassing.

One could argue that the games should never have been given to Russia in the first place, but as I understand it these laws weren't on the books when the games were awarded. Perhaps the games shouldn't have been given to Russia anyway on account of its awful treatment of other groups that don't happen to be politically sensitive in the USA. Ditto for the PRC. But that's the sort of awkward question that no one comes out of looking good.

[Metahive]

In 1936 during the Olympic Games in Germany, Hitler actually dialed down the persecution of minorities. Motherfucking Hitler! Granted, he did it mostly for self-serving reasons, but it's still a shame that Czar Putin, unlike the "Bohemian Corporal", isn't seeing any merit in Russia not looking like a den of backwards, reactionary bigots even if it's just for a few weeks.

[Tiriol]

As one happy note, the Finnish Minister for Culture and Sports waved a rainbow flag in Russia and has stood by his decision. I may not particularly like this politician, but he sure has some guts.

[wautd]

As one happy note, the Finnish Minister for Culture and Sports waved a rainbow flag in Russia and has stood by his decision. I may not particularly like this politician, but he sure has some guts.

Did he have anything to risk then when having diplometic immunity though? Still a nice gesture though.

In related news, freedom of religion is under treat as well in Russia. Peaceful march of pastafarians gets broken up by riot police and fundies. Would be funny news if it wasn't so sad on Russia's part

[Rogue 9]

As one happy note, the Finnish Minister for Culture and Sports waved a rainbow flag in Russia and has stood by his decision. I may not particularly like this politician, but he sure has some guts.

Did he have anything to risk then when having diplometic immunity though? Still a nice gesture though.

He could always get declared persona non grata and given 24 hours to leave the country for flouting the law under immunity.