Gay Athletes Could Be Prosecuted at 2014 Winter Olympics

[Locutus]

Russian Lawmaker Suggests



In Russia it is now illegal to even speak about homosexuality around minors, much less openly display gay pride. Technically the ban is against "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations" around minors, but the implication for openly gay individuals is clear. Public displays of affection by gays, including holding hands or displaying symbols like a rainbow flag, are now banned. Violators face steep fines and jail time; foreigners face similar penalties plus deportation.

So what will happen to openly gay athletes and fans, as well as any vocal supporters or protestors, when Russia hosts the Winter Olympics next year in Sochi?

This week, comments by a lawmaker from St. Petersburg set off a firestorm online when he said that fans and athletes would not be immune from prosecution during the games.



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Gay Athletes Could Be Prosecuted at 2014 Winter Olympics, Russian Lawmaker Suggests - ABC News

 

[Goober]

Then the Olympic Org should receive assurances that the law will be suspended during the games.

Olympics | Olympic Medals Results Videos Sports News | IOC

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

Russian Lawmaker Suggests



In Russia it is now illegal to even speak about homosexuality around minors, much less openly display gay pride. Technically the ban is against "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations" around minors, but the implication for openly gay individuals is clear. Public displays of affection by gays, including holding hands or displaying symbols like a rainbow flag, are now banned. Violators face steep fines and jail time; foreigners face similar penalties plus deportation.

So what will happen to openly gay athletes and fans, as well as any vocal supporters or protestors, when Russia hosts the Winter Olympics next year in Sochi?

This week, comments by a lawmaker from St. Petersburg set off a firestorm online when he said that fans and athletes would not be immune from prosecution during the games.



more


Gay Athletes Could Be Prosecuted at 2014 Winter Olympics, Russian Lawmaker Suggests - ABC News

"Non-traditional sexual relations" in Russia being anything that doesn't involve getting sh*tfaced on vodka and beating the crap out of a woman before raping her.

 

[karrie]

Our country should not be sending our athletes

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

We tried that in '80. It's not very effective.

 

[Cliffy]

We tried that in '80. It's not very effective.

It would be if half of the countries withheld their athletes.

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

It would be if half of the countries withheld their athletes.

Which kinda begs the question: Why bother to have an Olympics at all?

Every country that hosts the Olympics probably has some objectionable law.

And I'd also point out that this was ONE Russian lawmaker. Likely a backbencher whose job is to stir up the faithful.

We have 'em. Don't you?

 

[Cliffy]

Which kinda begs the question: Why bother to have an Olympics at all?

Every country that hosts the Olympics probably has some objectionable law.

And I'd also point out that this was ONE Russian lawmaker. Likely a backbencher whose job is to stir up the faithful.

We have 'em. Don't you?

Oh ya! The Olympic committee should get assurances.

 

[talloola]

are we all so nieve to think that russia was the same as our country concerning gay people, 'when' they
were awarded the olympic games!!!

The IOC should have been aware of the russian governments attitude toward gay people when they gave
them the games, I mean, jeesh, do we really think the russian government was hiding their real
feelings till they got the games, then let it all hang out.

With all of theyears of preparation 'of' the athletes who are planning to participate in the games,
and now with this news being splashed all over the world, do we really want to punish our athletes
to make our point to their government, why should the athletes be the brunt of this 'point' we want
to make to that government.

Make the protests thru political channels, because forcing the athletes to 'not' being able to participate will do 'absolutely nothing' to change russia's laws, or their governments approach to
the situation.

Of course the IOC should speak with the russian government about this problem, and get assured that
there will be 'no' arresting anyone during the games because they are gay, or because they behave
like a gay person, or not.

It would be nicer if they concentrate on arresting drunken, disorderly, violant, thieves, and other
such people who try to ruin other people's daily lives.

All it will do is prevent hundreds of athletes from participating in the olympic games, which is
probably the biggest thing in their lives at this time.

Take the time to think about 'how' much preparation those athletes have put into this olympics, it
has been years and years.

 

[JLM]

Russian Lawmaker Suggests



In Russia it is now illegal to even speak about homosexuality around minors, much less openly display gay pride. Technically the ban is against "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations" around minors, but the implication for openly gay individuals is clear. Public displays of affection by gays, including holding hands or displaying symbols like a rainbow flag, are now banned. Violators face steep fines and jail time; foreigners face similar penalties plus deportation.

So what will happen to openly gay athletes and fans, as well as any vocal supporters or protestors, when Russia hosts the Winter Olympics next year in Sochi?

This week, comments by a lawmaker from St. Petersburg set off a firestorm online when he said that fans and athletes would not be immune from prosecution during the games.



more


Gay Athletes Could Be Prosecuted at 2014 Winter Olympics, Russian Lawmaker Suggests - ABC News

That's a good bridge to cross when we get to it. -

Our country should not be sending our athletes

That's my first rule of thumb............"you don't go where you are not wanted".

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

That's a good bridge to cross when we get to it. -



That's my first rule of thumb............"you don't go where you are not wanted".

Then why are you here?

Just kidding. Too good to resist. Sorry.

 

[Walter]

It's the Olympics not the Homosexual Shame week convention. Some make it sound like only homosexuals are competing. If the homosexuals want to boycott let them.

 

[talloola]

That's a good bridge to cross when we get to it. -



That's my first rule of thumb............"you don't go where you are not wanted".

thats fine if it is you or I, but it is the athletes, and suggesting that, 'oh well' just
don't go, that will fix them is bogus.

that makes it seem like the athletes can just 'not go' and think nothing of it, and that is
far from the truth, they will be devastated, they will have spentyears and much money and
preparation to participate in the olympics, then just told, "oh, excuse us, butwe have
decided you can't go, as you are representing all of us in our protest of russia's laws
re: gays and lesbians. What!!!???, that is absurd.

A decision like that should have been made long ago,before all of the preparation of athletes
and families, and coaches etc., not now.

A decision like that should have been made by the OIC with the decision to award russia the games,
and they should have been told at that time, 'why', not now.

 

[L Gilbert]

Didn't this topic pop up somewhere else a couple days ago?

Anyway, the games have been boycotted before and I can see them being boycotted again. There are other games and they are not so riddled with silly crap and whatnot. I think a lot of athletes can prioritize between personal issues like "I want a medal" and issues like "Really? No gays at the games? There's something wrong with that country." IOW, not everyone is that selfish.

 

[JLM]

thats fine if it is you or I, but it is the athletes, and suggesting that, 'oh well' just
don't go, that will fix them is bogus.

that makes it seem like the athletes can just 'not go' and think nothing of it, and that is
far from the truth, they will be devastated, they will have spentyears and much money and
preparation to participate in the olympics, then just told, "oh, excuse us, butwe have
decided you can't go, as you are representing all of us in our protest of russia's laws
re: gays and lesbians. What!!!???, that is absurd.

A decision like that should have been made long ago,before all of the preparation of athletes
and families, and coaches etc., not now.

A decision like that should have been made by the OIC with the decision to award russia the games,
and they should have been told at that time, 'why', not now.

Excelling and winning at sports is a noble pursuit, BUT sometimes there's bigger principles at stake, and there's times in life when you have to be prepared for and accept disappointment for a bigger cause. A Gold medal isn't everything in life.

 

[coldstream]

There is simply no way the Russian government is going to arrest athletes in the Sochi Olympics. The rabid pro-homosexual lobby and propaganda in the Western Press is creating an issue where none exists. That is the tactic, to wedge the issue into a discussion completey removed from the topic, to forward an agenda.

 

[L Gilbert]

Opinion; everyone's entitled to them, including homosexuals, redheads, southpaws, wiccans, porn stars, etc., not just you. If it were a sensible decision, they'd have just made it illegal to display ANY affection or ANYTHING concerning sexual relations. But no, it's much easier to persecute a minority.

 

[coldstream]

Opinion; everyone's entitled to them, including homosexuals, redheads, southpaws, wiccans, porn stars, etc., not just you. If it were a sensible decision, they'd have just made it illegal to display ANY affection or ANYTHING concerning sexual relations. But no, it's much easier to persecute a minority.

You'll have to point out where i supported 'persecuting a minority' LG.. All of my posts reject violence, malice, slander, isolation or persecution of homosexuals.

They just object to the politically corrrect characterization and nomalization of a condition of abandonment to the basest and most self destructive of prurient gratification. As far as i'm concerned.. that's any one's choice.. my objection is to dragging the rest of Western Civilization down with you.

And since so many people are deeply and negatively affected by homosexuality, attested to by the huge increase in substance abuse, disease, promiscuity, clinical depression, family breakdown, social alienation, violence, suicide amongst its practitioners.. I have no problem in stating an obvious fact.. especially in the storm of the homosexual lobby demands to 'accept and celebrate and proclaim your 'orientation'.

That is that there is NO WAY you will ever be able to salvage such gravely disordered, sinful and willful condition, one that is within the freedom and responsibility of all to control and cast off. It can do nothing but cause profound misery, disgrace.. and death.

 

[L Gilbert]

You'll have to point out where i supported 'persecuting a minority' LG.. All of my posts reject violence, malice, slander, isolation or persecution of homosexuals.

Have another puff on your crack pipe. I was referring to "they" meaning the Russian gov't people. But now that you mention malice and slander, you have, in the past and quite unscientifically equated homosexuality with pedophilia and said it was a disease and unnatural. Take a cruise through some of your past posts. And yes, if you aren't persecuting homosexuals and the people struggling for their equal rights and privileges verbally, just WTF did you mean by "rabid, pro-homosexual lobby"? Rabid? Really? If you're using the term figuratively, then I'd suggest you take a look at your own malicious and frothing mouthings.

They just object to the politically corrrect characterization and nomalization of a condition of abandonment to the basest and most self destructive of prurient gratification. As far as i'm concerned.. that's any one's choice.. my objection is to dragging the rest of Western Civilization down with you.

As I said before, you seem to blame homosexuality for being almost the entire reason for the woes of society, and do so here without posting a mote of evidence. Yeah, sorry, but greed for power and money is quite a bit more conspicuous as being a major influence on the woes of society. F'n near everything in life today is about money in some way or other. The theme seems to be profit over people.

And since so many people are deeply and negatively affected by homosexuality, attested to by the huge increase in substance abuse, disease, promiscuity, clinical depression, suicide.. I have no problem in stating an obvious fact..

Show how it is "fact" and not just your opinion?

especially in the storm of the homosexual lobby demands to 'accept and celebrate and proclaim your 'orientation'.

Looks to me as if the "homosexual lobby" didn't encounter so many people who want to poke their beaks into other people's bedrooms, refuse to acknowledge them as human beings, insist on denouncing homosexuality as unnatural, and declaring homosexuality to be a perversion and a choice, there would be very little fuss about the issue.

That is that there is NO WAY you will able to salvage such gravely disordered, sinful and willful condition, one that is within the freedom and responsibility of all to control and cast off. It can do nothing by cause misery, confusion.. and death.

lol Yeah, I'm sure that sort of crap's been said about wiccans, pagans, alchemists, redheads, southpaws, people of different skin color, North Am savages, et al, ad infinitum, ad nauseum ...... back in the days of the Inquisitions and probably a few times before those blights on humanity. BTW, life causes misery, confusion, and death.

 

[talloola]

Excelling and winning at sports is a noble pursuit, BUT sometimes there's bigger principles at stake, and there's times in life when you have to be prepared for and accept disappointment for a bigger cause. A Gold medal isn't everything in life.

sure, thats easy to say when you have no connection or emotional thoughts for the people who you are
easily deciding to be the pawns in this issue.

I would like to see you as the athlete, who has spent years practicing and learning, and who's familieshave
put much money and time towards their pursuit, then casually tell you to stay home, you are being
chosen as the pawns to make a point, nah, not fair, doesn't make any 'thoughtful' sense to me at all.

too easy, far too easy, without any thoughts to the athletes and coaches and families.