Happy heat-wave Wednesday all!
This issue has been circulating for a few weeks now and I wanted to publically address it on here, and hear others thoughts on the subject. On June 30th of this year Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a bill that basically criminalized homosexuality. Anything considered pro-gay is banned and anyone in support of homosexuality would be arrested. This includes but not limited to holding hands in public with same sex partner, wearing anything rainbow, affirmative gay speech etc. Unsurprisingly enough this new law extends to homosexual tourists as if caught guilty of similar offenses would be arrested for 14 days and then deported permanently from the country.
In now less 7 months Russia is hosting the Winter Olympics. Simultaneously more and more athletes are becoming openly gay. While the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is in support of equality, nothing has really been done to deal with the issue. As a result this puts not only a lot of athletes at risk but also tourists who hope to attend. Some of the most popular examples used to show how at risk the athletes are: If they win a gold medal they arent allowed to kiss their partner in public. During an interview they cannot openly acknowledge they are gay and the press is not allowed to mention it UNLESS shaming homosexuality. Athletes arent allowed to sport a rainbow flag.
The Russian government is also known to turn a blind eye to gay violence, so my biggest concern and I suppose question is on a global and highly publicized scale whats going to happen?
If anyone has any other information on this also please comment below!
Also here is a copy of the 2010 "Fundamental Principals of Olympism":
1. Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of
body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a
way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example and respect for
universal fundamental ethical principles.
2. The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of man,
with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.
3. The Olympic Movement is the concerted, organised, universal and permanent action, carried
out under the supreme authority of the IOC, of all individuals and entities who are inspired by
the values of Olympism. It covers the five continents. It reaches its peak with the bringing
together of the worlds athletes at the great sports festival, the Olympic Games. Its symbol is
five interlaced rings.
4. The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practicing
sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual
understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play. The organisation, administration
and management of sport must be controlled by independent sports organisations.
5. Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion,
politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement.
6. Belonging to the Olympic Movement requires compliance with the Olympic Charter and
recognition by the IOC.
This issue has been circulating for a few weeks now and I wanted to publically address it on here, and hear others thoughts on the subject. On June 30th of this year Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a bill that basically criminalized homosexuality. Anything considered pro-gay is banned and anyone in support of homosexuality would be arrested. This includes but not limited to holding hands in public with same sex partner, wearing anything rainbow, affirmative gay speech etc. Unsurprisingly enough this new law extends to homosexual tourists as if caught guilty of similar offenses would be arrested for 14 days and then deported permanently from the country.
In now less 7 months Russia is hosting the Winter Olympics. Simultaneously more and more athletes are becoming openly gay. While the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is in support of equality, nothing has really been done to deal with the issue. As a result this puts not only a lot of athletes at risk but also tourists who hope to attend. Some of the most popular examples used to show how at risk the athletes are: If they win a gold medal they arent allowed to kiss their partner in public. During an interview they cannot openly acknowledge they are gay and the press is not allowed to mention it UNLESS shaming homosexuality. Athletes arent allowed to sport a rainbow flag.
The Russian government is also known to turn a blind eye to gay violence, so my biggest concern and I suppose question is on a global and highly publicized scale whats going to happen?
If anyone has any other information on this also please comment below!
Also here is a copy of the 2010 "Fundamental Principals of Olympism":
1. Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of
body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a
way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example and respect for
universal fundamental ethical principles.
2. The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of man,
with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.
3. The Olympic Movement is the concerted, organised, universal and permanent action, carried
out under the supreme authority of the IOC, of all individuals and entities who are inspired by
the values of Olympism. It covers the five continents. It reaches its peak with the bringing
together of the worlds athletes at the great sports festival, the Olympic Games. Its symbol is
five interlaced rings.
4. The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practicing
sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual
understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play. The organisation, administration
and management of sport must be controlled by independent sports organisations.
5. Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion,
politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement.
6. Belonging to the Olympic Movement requires compliance with the Olympic Charter and
recognition by the IOC.
blair:
Oh my god, what's happening in Russia is so sad, It's hard to believe that it's 2013 and things like this keep happening