Russia - Gay Rights - Sochi Olympics Megathread

[Genivaria]

Oh yeah. And good luck arresting them all.

Just think how powerful it will be when a winner of a gold medal says "I support the struggle of the LGBT community in Russia" then gets dragged off by Russian police in full view of cameras.

There's no way they'd do that, they know it would look even worse for them...right?

[Mike the Progressive]

To be fair, they probably won't arrest them at first. They'll beat the shit out of them, then they will arrest them.

Russia loves Tourism. You have to be deluded to think that we're going to beat up thousands of Tourists.

*cough Putin's lapdog*

But the question is do they hate ze gayz more?

Don't worry I'll wait as you forward this question to the Politburo! Undoubtedly Russia is innocent in all of this and should get a Nobel Peace Prize, just cuz.

[Brocwika]

Why do I feel like one of the biggest acts of civil disobedience is gonna happen because of this.

Don't get your hopes up. Russia and "civil disobedience" do not compute without bloodshed. And they're shameless enough to quell any protests if they have to, even with the entire world judging them.

[Reddogkeno101]

Classic Russia; when the West is progressing forward socially, they go backwards... I think there should be a petition for at least some Western nations to boycott the Olympics. I've had it with these socially backward Russians.

I've heard that it's apparently too late to change the location and boycotting wouldn't be fair to the athletes.

Frankly, in my opinion, the struggles of the gay and lesbian communities is far bigger than any athletes will ever be. We need to force Russia to stop oppressing their homosexual community. How better to do it than have some of the world's top nations boycott it. We'll do a 1980 America.

[Brocwika]

Just think how powerful it will be when a winner of a gold medal says "I support the struggle of the LGBT community in Russia" then gets dragged off by Russian police in full view of cameras.

There's no way they'd do that, they know it would look even worse for them...right?

OF COURSE they wouldn't do it in daylight. The KGB FSB would knock on their door at midnight. Old habits die hard.

[Shofercia]

Russia loves Tourism. You have to be deluded to think that we're going to beat up thousands of Tourists.

*cough Putin's lapdog*

But the question is do they hate ze gayz more?

Don't worry I'll wait as you forward this question to the Politburo! Undoubtedly Russia is innocent in all of this and should get a Nobel Peace Prize, just cuz.

I've opposed Putin on Libya, and I'm opposing Putin on this. But if you're looking for a job in the Politburo, why don't you ask Mutko. You two would get along splendidly.

[Genivaria]

I've heard that it's apparently too late to change the location and boycotting wouldn't be fair to the athletes.

Frankly, in my opinion, the struggles of the gay and lesbian communities is far bigger than any athletes will ever be. We need to force Russia to stop oppressing their homosexual community. How better to do it than have some of the world's top nations boycott it. We'll do a 1980 America.

I don't think nations will boycott.
I just don't see it happening, what I do see happening is athletes and visitors attending and there will be protesters.

[The Carlisle]

Just think how powerful it will be when a winner of a gold medal says "I support the struggle of the LGBT community in Russia" then gets dragged off by Russian police in full view of cameras.

There's no way they'd do that, they know it would look even worse for them...right?

Even without cameras looking at then, the arrest will be the trigger. If it happens in front of cameras, bonus points. And I guarantee you once an athlete states their support, people will have cameras on him/her at all times to film the arrest.

[Shofercia]

There's no way they'd do that, they know it would look even worse for them...right?

OF COURSE they wouldn't do it in daylight. The KGB FSB would knock on their door at midnight. Old habits die hard.

No, not really. Night vision cameras are known to work quite well.

Anyways, who are the Gay Olympic Athletes that are open about who they are, and have a chance at winning the Gold Medal? Anyone know?

[Genivaria]

There's no way they'd do that, they know it would look even worse for them...right?

Even without cameras looking at then, the arrest will be the trigger. If it happens in front of cameras, bonus points. And I guarantee you once an athlete states their support, people will have cameras on him/her at all times to film the arrest.

Trigger for what exactly? I doubt there'd be riots in the stands over it. Booing perhaps but let's not get over-dramatic.

[Shofercia]

There's no way they'd do that, they know it would look even worse for them...right?

Even without cameras looking at then, the arrest will be the trigger. If it happens in front of cameras, bonus points. And I guarantee you once an athlete states their support, people will have cameras on him/her at all times to film the arrest.

Yet another reason why this is stupid. There's no efficient way to enforce it. Not that it wouldn't be stupid if there was an efficient way...

[Avenio]

Why is it a shitty thing for Russians to not want foreigners to influence their children.

... Because, the morality of a law discriminating against LGBTs aside, it's an excuse for Russia to detain and suppress political figures and movements that challenge the regime as it currently stands?

Surely that's something we can all get behind condemning.

[Reddogkeno101]

Frankly, in my opinion, the struggles of the gay and lesbian communities is far bigger than any athletes will ever be. We need to force Russia to stop oppressing their homosexual community. How better to do it than have some of the world's top nations boycott it. We'll do a 1980 America.

I don't think nations will boycott.
I just don't see it happening, what I do see happening is athletes and visitors attending and there will be protesters.

I'm not saying it Will happen, but it should. Realistically, I think protests will occur and (I know someone's already said this) hopefully some government tell their athletes or they choose to say that they support the LGBT community.

[Soviet Russia Republic]

I've heard that it's apparently too late to change the location and boycotting wouldn't be fair to the athletes.

Frankly, in my opinion, the struggles of the gay and lesbian communities is far bigger than any athletes will ever be. We need to force Russia to stop oppressing their homosexual community. How better to do it than have some of the world's top nations boycott it. We'll do a 1980 America.

That boycott did nothing.

Aslo the LGBT community in Russia even opposes that idea, common sense tells you that it would do nothing good.

[Mike the Progressive]

*cough Putin's lapdog*

But the question is do they hate ze gayz more?

Don't worry I'll wait as you forward this question to the Politburo! Undoubtedly Russia is innocent in all of this and should get a Nobel Peace Prize, just cuz.

I've opposed Putin on Libya, and I'm opposing Putin on this. But if you're looking for a job in the Politburo, why don't you ask Mutko. You two would get along splendidly.

I don't know what Mutko is, but as I suspect that is a Russian official and as I think the Russians are "godless reds," I don't think we'd get along at all. Maybe enjoy some vodka, a couple of hookers. A cigar or two.

[Shofercia]

Even without cameras looking at then, the arrest will be the trigger. If it happens in front of cameras, bonus points. And I guarantee you once an athlete states their support, people will have cameras on him/her at all times to film the arrest.

Trigger for what exactly? I doubt there'd be riots in the stands over it. Booing perhaps but let's not get over-dramatic.

A peaceful protest. If thousands protest, what's the government going to do? During the Bolotnaya Protests, contrary to mass hysteria, mostly rabid racists and alleged enemies of the state, (i.e. those with ties to Saakashvili Regime,) were arrested. The extreme majority won the right to protest in massive numbers, and didn't take any punishment. I highly doubt the LGBT community is going to want to start an ethnic conflict in the Caucasus.

[Brocwika]

I've heard that it's apparently too late to change the location and boycotting wouldn't be fair to the athletes.

Frankly, in my opinion, the struggles of the gay and lesbian communities is far bigger than any athletes will ever be. We need to force Russia to stop oppressing their homosexual community. How better to do it than have some of the world's top nations boycott it. We'll do a 1980 America.

>Socially backward russians.

Believe it or not, some people don't agree with what you think, and that doesn't make them wrong.

This is an important life lesson right here.

Just being the devil's advocate.

[Shofercia]

I've opposed Putin on Libya, and I'm opposing Putin on this. But if you're looking for a job in the Politburo, why don't you ask Mutko. You two would get along splendidly.

I don't know what Mutko is, but as I suspect that is a Russian official and as I think the Russians are "godless reds," I don't think we'd get along at all. Maybe enjoy some vodka, a couple of hookers. A cigar or two.

I take it that you also failed to read the thread's OP.

Don't worry, Gen the OP was also stumped by the OP's post

[Mike the Progressive]

I don't know what Mutko is, but as I suspect that is a Russian official and as I think the Russians are "godless reds," I don't think we'd get along at all. Maybe enjoy some vodka, a couple of hookers. A cigar or two.

I take it that you also failed to read the thread's OP.

Know the story (read it yesterday), don't recall every single name mentioned in it.

[Shofercia]

Honestly, on a serious note, I think that RD's Idea of Protest is the best.

[The Carlisle]

Even without cameras looking at then, the arrest will be the trigger. If it happens in front of cameras, bonus points. And I guarantee you once an athlete states their support, people will have cameras on him/her at all times to film the arrest.

Trigger for what exactly? I doubt there'd be riots in the stands over it. Booing perhaps but let's not get over-dramatic.

I hope that there will be no riots. What I mean by trigger is the point when the mass civil disobedience begins.

[Acadzia]

Why is it a shitty thing for Russians to not want foreigners to influence their children.

... Because, the morality of a law discriminating against LGBTs aside, it's an excuse for Russia to detain and suppress political figures and movements that challenge the regime as it currently stands?

Surely that's something we can all get behind.

Nah. The gays (or rather, the white, WASPy, straight liberals who are forcing their lifestyle down our throats) have the West. Let them have it, and let the rest of the world do what it wants. It's like, if you and I are two food carts on a street and you go pure vegan: why should I have to follow, just because you wanted to? Let all the meat eaters come to me, let all the vegans and vegan-recipe aficionados go to you. I don't get why we need Russia to capitulate to us. How would we feel if they forced, say, Russian Orthodoxy on us. Why do we feel the need to force Western post-Christian nihilism on them?

I gotta say, of I didn't have prior oaths and arrangements to my Queen and Country, I'd return to the land of my forefathers: Russia.

[Prussia-Steinbach]

Russia loves Tourism. You have to be deluded to think that we're going to beat up thousands of Tourists.

*cough Putin's lapdog*

But the question is do they hate ze gayz more?

Don't worry I'll wait as you forward this question to the Politburo! Undoubtedly Russia is innocent in all of this and should get a Nobel Peace Prize, just cuz.

They'd deserve one as much as Obama.

[Shofercia]

I take it that you also failed to read the thread's OP.

Know the story (read it yesterday), don't recall every single name mentioned in it.

Not even if it was the person around whom the actual article was written?

[Genivaria]

I don't know what Mutko is, but as I suspect that is a Russian official and as I think the Russians are "godless reds," I don't think we'd get along at all. Maybe enjoy some vodka, a couple of hookers. A cigar or two.

I take it that you also failed to read the thread's OP.

Don't worry, Gen the OP was also stumped by the OP's post

It's yur fakking Vudka!