Russia - Gay Rights - Sochi Olympics Megathread

[Australasia]

And some people ask why the United Nations and international human rights organizations are striving to protect and promote gay rights around the world.

Here's one example right here. There are many more.

[Risottia]

:palm:

And some people ask why the United Nations and international human rights organizations are striving to protect and promote gay rights around the world.

Here's one example right here. There are many more.

But... but... THE INTERNATIONAL GAYJEWILLUMINEUROMASONCOMMIEATHEISTNAZIMUSLIMBANKERPAPIST CONSPIRACY!

[Blekksprutia]

This is hate. I am so over hate. I am so sick of hate. Can't everyone just love each other already???

[Kingsley Bedford]

And we're talking about the country that 10 years ago gave us lesbian pop singers who kissed during their performances.

Which is why I said that Russia is moving backwards in regards to LGBT rights. Before replying to a post, you need to make sure to thoroughly read it.

That's exactly what I was implying... I was purely giving an example to show how much they've moved backwards in the last 10 years. I personally think the increasingly close relationship between the Russian government and the Orthodox Church may have something to do with this increasingly socially conservative direction Russian law is taking.

[Argentina Leone]

This is hate. I am so over hate. I am so sick of hate. Can't everyone just love each other already???

It will be a frozen day in hell before I love Kim Jong-Un.

[Blekksprutia]

This is hate. I am so over hate. I am so sick of hate. Can't everyone just love each other already???

It will be a frozen day in hell before I love Kim Jong-Un.

Insha-allah, man. Would you love Kim Jong-Un if Kim Jong-Un didn't hate and torture anymore?

[Argentina Leone]

It will be a frozen day in hell before I love Kim Jong-Un.

Insha-allah, man. Would you love Kim Jong-Un if Kim Jong-Un didn't hate and torture anymore?

1. What are the odds of that happening?
2. Even if he did change, I will find it extremely hard to to even just stop disliking him given all of evil psychotic crap he has done to his people. His regime has tortured countless people to death and committed countless other human rights abuses against those he hasn't killed.

[Blekksprutia]

Insha-allah, man. Would you love Kim Jong-Un if Kim Jong-Un didn't hate and torture anymore?

1. What are the odds of that happening?
2. Even if he did change, I will find it extremely hard to to even just stop disliking him given all of evil psychotic crap he has done to his people. His regime has tortured countless people to death and committed countless other human rights abuses against those he hasn't killed.

Dude, you're ruining the sentiment. You're taking my hypothetical situation and taking it seriously. I was half joking. Stop taking my sentimental statement and throwing up your logic all over it.

[Shofercia]

I would like to remind people that these groups are vigilantes, not backed by the Russian government.

These groups have existed in Russia for years, and have been doing this for much longer than since the laws were introduced... and these groups have been linked to the Kremlin in the past.

Neo-Nazis linked to Kremlin? Putin cares too much about his approval rating to try that shit.

Which is why I said that Russia is moving backwards in regards to LGBT rights. Before replying to a post, you need to make sure to thoroughly read it.

That's exactly what I was implying... I was purely giving an example to show how much they've moved backwards in the last 10 years. I personally think the increasingly close relationship between the Russian government and the Orthodox Church may have something to do with this increasingly socially conservative direction Russian law is taking.

Here's what you're missing: this atrocious act was done by Neo-Nazis. The most reviled group in Russia. No one in their fucking right minds is going to associate themselves with Neo-Nazis. All they get are scumbags like "The Other Russia". I've already stated that if the Russian Government doesn't throw that lot behind bars within eleven months, and does everything to stop hate crimes, I will no longer support them.

[Genivaria]

MOSCOW — Russia’s minister of sports, Vitaly L. Mutko, said on Thursday that foreign athletes traveling to Russia for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi would be expected to obey a new Russian law banning “homosexual propaganda” or face criminal prosecution.

In comments made to the state news agency R-Sport, Mutko said that gay athletes were welcome to attend the Games, but insisted that under the new law no athlete or visitor could advocate a “nontraditional” sexual orientation.

The statement seemed sure to stoke criticism of the law, which has already become a point of contention for the Games, with some calls for a boycott. Legislation and statements by the Russian Orthodox Church and political officials about the law have been denounced as homophobic.

“No one is forbidding a sportsman with a nontraditional sexual orientation to come to Sochi,” Mutko said. “But if he goes out on the street and starts to propagandize it, then of course he will be held accountable. Even if he’s a sportsman, when he comes to a country, he should respect its laws.”

The law, which Russian President Vladimir V. Putin signed last month, imposes a fine of up to $155 for individuals who advocate “nontraditional” sexual relationships among minors. But the law is so vague that it is widely interpreted here as a broader effort to restrict open advocacy of homosexuality.

Those who violate the law may be arrested, and foreigners could face deportation.

The legislation has provoked anger and a spirited response from gay rights advocates outside Russia.

On Wednesday, protesters dumped several cases of vodka outside the Russian consulate in New York while calling for a boycott of the Olympics and sponsors of the Games.

In an attempt to head off the controversy last week, the International Olympic Committee said it had “received assurances from the highest level of government in Russia that the legislation will not affect those attending or taking part in the Games.”

Mutko’s statements, however, seemed to undermine that claim, and might reflect conflicts among senior authorities over how to handle what has become a sensitive issue ahead of an event meant to highlight Russia’s global stature.

The Kremlin has pursued an increasingly conservative agenda since Putin’s return to the presidency last year, aligning its politics with the Russian Orthodox Church to pass legislation banning adoptions of children to same-sex couples and criminalizing blasphemy.

Last month, the leader of the church, Patriarch Kirill I, called the legalization of same-sex marriage a “very dangerous symptom of the apocalypse.”

Critics have said the laws promote an antigay bias among Russians, and have pointed to recent killings and brutal attacks against gays as evidence.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/02/sport ... share&_r=0

Ok so basically any foreign spectator or athlete who participates in any 'gay propaganda' will be subjected to arrest and/or deportation.
I see this ending badly. So much for foreign athletes not being held to the law.
Anyone else foresee this only makes foreign relations worse if the Russian government starts arresting hundreds of foreign nationals?

[Herador]

Didn't some Russian government officials say Olympic Athlete's wouldn't be held to that law? Either way, it's a pretty shitty thing for them to be doing.

[Genivaria]

Didn't some Russian government officials say Olympic Athlete's wouldn't be held to that law? Either way, it's a pretty shitty thing for them to be doing.

I heard the same actually. This is the newest story though and the article was published yesterday on the 1st.

[Geilinor]

In comments made to the state news agency R-Sport, Mutko said that gay athletes were welcome to attend the Games, but insisted that under the new law no athlete or visitor could advocate a “nontraditional” sexual orientation.

Couldn't the law be abused to completely prevent LGBT athletes from talking about their sexuality with other athletes?

[Genivaria]

Couldn't the law be abused to completely prevent LGBT athletes from talking about their sexuality with other athletes?

I find that likely.

[Geilinor]

Last month, the leader of the church, Patriarch Kirill I, called the legalization of same-sex marriage a “very dangerous symptom of the apocalypse.”

Why would anyone listen to these people?

[Shofercia]

Are you FUCKING SERIOUS?!

Ok, fuck it. Bash away, but only on LGBT issues.

Just for the record, I've been opposing Mutko since that little stunt he pulled in Vancouver. Please don't ask me what year, should be obvious. So much for lobbying for the 2024 Leningrad Olympics in Honor of Lifting the Siege...

Not to mention, how the fuck are Gay Athletes going to spread Propaganda? Is Shawn White going to pull off a Gay Jump?

That said, the last two lines of the article were bullshit and unnecessary, but then again, it's the NY Times.

[Genivaria]

Last month, the leader of the church, Patriarch Kirill I, called the legalization of same-sex marriage a “very dangerous symptom of the apocalypse.”

Why would anyone listen to these people?

This is a country where blasphemy is a felony.

[Herador]

Not to mention, how the fuck are Gay Athletes going to spread Propaganda? Is Shawn White going to pull off a Gay Jump?

Bit of pelvic action when he's in the air?

[Menassa]

Why would anyone listen to these people?

This is a country where blasphemy is a felony.

Sounds like my kind of town.

----

How serious are they going? I mean I'm no expert in international law but say a tourist announces their pro-homosexual stance do they go to jail, and if so, how long?

[Liriena]

Russia, if you don't want me visiting you and spending cash on you anywhere in the near future, just go ahead and ask!

[Shofercia]

Couldn't the law be abused to completely prevent LGBT athletes from talking about their sexuality with other athletes?

Yes, that's the problem.

[Herador]

This is a country where blasphemy is a felony.

Sounds like my kind of town.

----

How serious are they going? I mean I'm no expert in international law but say a tourist announces their pro-homosexual stance do they go to jail, and if so, how long?

Something like that has happened.
A bit biased, but should fill you in a little.

[Regnum Dominae]

I'm more and more liking the idea of flooding the Olympics with LGBT people to create the "gayest Olympics ever".

It would be a lot more effective than a boycott in getting the message across.

[Avenio]

As someone on another website said, someone should propose to athletes that they all wear rainbow armbands or bandanas or something whilst competing. I can almost guarantee you the Russian government won't think to arrest any of them if it means that they risk turning their Olympics into a sham.

[Shofercia]

Not to mention, how the fuck are Gay Athletes going to spread Propaganda? Is Shawn White going to pull off a Gay Jump?

Bit of pelvic action when he's in the air?

So no Elvis Moves?