Russia’s gay propaganda ban raises questions about Olympics
The Winter Olympics in Sochi are still some months away, but they are already causing international outrage.
The Games themselves aren’t the source of the problem.
Russia is.
Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin implemented legislation that banned all “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations around minors.” The question is, how will this loosely construed legislation affect athletes and spectators of one of the greatest international competitions?
The International Olympic Committee reassured the world by stating that the latest anti-gay policies would not be enforced during the Games. Afterwards, the Russian government contradicted the IOC’s earlier statement by confirming that the anti-gay legislation would indeed be enforced during the games and argued that the law did not discriminate against anyone because it would apply to everyone, homosexual or otherwise.
Whether it applies to everyone or not is irrelevant. The legislation at its core is violating basic human rights. Because of it, a group of people is not free to live life naturally, and is instead coerced to limit self-expression. How is this not discrimination?
Even worse, the IOC seems to be slinking back and accepting this very lukewarm argument as sufficient. As a major international organization, it seems silly that they aren’t doing more to protect people going to Russia and are accepting intolerance that goes against the core values of the Olympic Games.
Why the IOC is keeping such a low profile is strange indeed. In the past, the IOC has used their influence against other countries hosting the Olympics.
In 1988, the IOC helped bring about democratic elections in Seoul before the Summer Games. Again in 2008, the IOC used their influence to successfully urge China to abolish its law requiring journalists to get special permission from the government before interviewing Chinese citizens. For the past decade or so, the IOC strongly encouraged countries hosting the Games to be more environmentally friendly.
So why can’t the IOC do anything about the anti-gay policies in Russia?
Protests are cropping up all over the world. Bars are boycotting Russian vodka. A petition is circling to move the Olympic Games from Russia back to Vancouver. Queer Nation and other LGBQTA activist societies demand that Coca-Cola, one of the biggest corporate supporters of the Olympics, boycott the Games.
Such boycotting, however, has historically proved ineffective. President Obama is strongly against boycotting the games.
He stated at a news conference earlier last month that, “One thing I’m really looking forward to is maybe some gay and lesbian athletes bringing home the gold or silver or bronze, which I think would go a long way in rejecting the kind of attitudes we’re seeing there (in Russia).”
Similarly, Coca-Cola defended its sponsorship of the Olympics Games by stating that participating in the Games would further advance the advocacy for gay rights rather than “sitting on the sidelines” and passing the opportunity.
Robert Malekoff, associate professor of sport studies, commented on how hard it is to find a viable solution.
“It’s hard for me to believe that no one would step up, and at least, in some way shape or form, try to voice … their displeasure with these laws in Russia,” said Malekoff.
Athletes are suffering from the pressure, he goes on to explain, because if they boycott the games they will lose the opportunity to compete after devoting years to training, and if they don’t, people will criticize them.
What will actually happen during the Olympic Games is not beyond speculation. With intense protests already raging through the world, we can only expect an escalation as the Winter Olympics approach.
But one thing is for certain: such intolerance will not be tolerated.
Nick • Sep 9, 2013 at 11:29 am
Frankly, I dont blame Russia. I respect and aplaud Mr Putin for putting his foot down, and standing up for the honor of his country. Afterall, Russia has made a complete turn around under his administration. As of Putin, Russia is officially more Christian than the United States, and Putin includes the council of the Church in his politics. He backs this up with a long speech he made in the Russian Duma Parliament, of which he quoted something to this degree “We should learn from the social failures and unrest of the U.S. and Britain, etc, Russia doesnt need minorities, minorities need Russia, if they dont want to speak Russian, respect Russian culture, and Russian laws, then they can live elsewhere under the Shari’ya law.” He is saying that Russia deserves credit for how much it has changed since the USSR, but that Russia is not going to change its laws to benefit the beliefs of an anti-national minority no matter how loud they yell discrimination. He received a 5 minute standing ovation. Anti-abortion, and anti-homosexuality come with this. I agree with him. Homosexuality is wrong on several fronts. Its is NOT natural expression, it is by definition unnatural. It denies orphan children a father or mother figure. It is the cutting edge of the sexual revolution, promoting immoral behavior. Afterall, and to be explicit, if you dont believe that male on male anal penetration and rectum licking is wrong, you have bigger issues. This brings me to another point. Homosexuality is based entirely on bodily lust. This evident is every homosexuals defence of the practice “dont knock it til you try it”. They dont share love for each others souls, they just love the way they make themselves feel about each other. When a person is a sexual failure in the traditional sense, they look elsewhere to find satisfaction. Homosexuals cannot promote marital love, because it is an ultimately sterile union, which benefits society in no way. Adopted children can also not be taught right on morality this way. President Vladimir Putin has recognized these issues and the consequences of Its legality. As a result, it is banned in Russia, and whatever his beliefs, he has the right to do so. Anti-Homosexuality is NOT discrimination and it does not deny basic human rights. Homosexuality is found in sexual preference. Physical identity, the BASIS of discrimination, is not found in sexual preference. Legit Discrimination is against someones physical features or upbringing, like race, gender, or religion. Keeping blacks from using the same facilities as whites is wrong, and that is discrimination. Keeping Homosexuals from expressing pornography and what the majority of the nation calls wrong and “sinful” is not discrimination. Essentially, if the nation can rule that a religious group, like Mormons, cant practice polygamy, then it can rule that its people are forbidden to practice homosexuality. Afterall, based on homosexual activists beliefs, what logical argument could be made against the legality bestiality, incest, or pedophilia? Mr Putin also made a good point that it isnt discrimination, because it applies to an idea, being homosexuality, and not a group people. And while this law may forbid a certain group of people from doing this, it restricts every other person from practicing it as well “homosexuals or otherwise”, so it can be seen here, that a ban on homosexuality is NOT discrimination. If you want to practice it, go into the bedroom, and What happens in there, STAYS in there. But perhaps the biggest idea shaping Mr Putins decision, is that the legality of homosexuality imposes its acceptance on ALL of society. As a member of a society of a nation of people, which believes in mass majority that homosexuality is wrong, I don’t want it in my community. Why should I subject myself to this? And Why should I subject my children to this? I don’t want it around me, and I don’t want it around my children. In essence, it is homosexuality that infringes upon human rights. It could keep me from protecting my children, or it could keep me from practicing my religion. I also don’t want me or my children to see men in immodest clothing or tights skating on t.v. labeled under “freedom of expression” either, but I still want to see the Olympics, which belongs to my heritage as a Greek-American, without its meaning to me being compromised. To sum up, Mr. Putin has the full right to rule what he believes about this, and I agree with it. If the Olympics are going to be held in Russia, then the games will not be an exception to Russia. A Russian citizen, or an American citizen, cannot go into the Sochi and not expect to be subject to Russian laws. All of you need to quit making it into an equality issue, because it ISNT, as I have just proved. So get over it. Homosexuality isnt for the greater good.