Russian lawmaker: We will arrest gay athletes, tourists at Olympic Games

[Are_grits_groceries]

'Gay propaganda' law co-sponsor says he is unconcerned about a US visa ban, saying: 'I've spoken to US politicians, and they support my stance'

A Russian lawmaker has said the ‘gay propaganda’ law will remain enforced during the Sochi Winter Olympic Games in 2014. Vitaly Milonov, co-sponsor of the ‘non-traditional relationships’ bill, said the government cannot decide when to selectively enforce the law.

It comes as the International Olympic Committee said the Russian government had ‘assured’ them all athletes and spectators will be safe from arrest.

Speaking to Interfax and as translated by GSN, Milonov said: ‘I have not heard any comments from the government of the Russian Federation but I know it is acting in accordance with Russian law.

‘If a law has been approved by the federal legislature and signed by the president, then the government has no right to suspend it. It doesn’t have the authority.’
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- See more at: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/russian-lawmaker-we-will-arrest-gay-athletes-tourists-olympic-games300713#sthash.1DZLDurd.dpuf

They better get their shite together.
This is an international incident waiting to happen.

[Luminous Animal]

1. Now the games are worth boycotting.

[MNBrewer]

21. Russia was already worth boycotting, but this will surely give the boycott a boost

[PatrynXX]

39. Yep...

I hate boycotting the games but if they do this they'll leave other countries with no choice. if anyone shows up

[Brickbat]

2. Do it. Fucking do it and then see what happens.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

6. my best bet is nothing will happen. if they imprison someone he will be released

after some bargaining.(i say he as more than likely it will be a gay man and not a woman). nothing will change with the law itself and no nation will interfere in this.

the best thing that could have happened is if we boycotted but that too won't happen

[Scurrilous]

3. @#$% Russia.

[MADem]

4. I am starting to wonder if the Russians want to call this Olympics thing off....

Being abusive so that no country with a halfway decent human rights record (and their "friends in commerce" who may not be quite so inclusive but who understand which side their bread is buttered on) will want to send their people to the Games for fear of arrest, is one way of getting the thing cancelled.

The Russians (read: Pootie Poot) might just tell the Olympic committee, "Fuck it, go to some other country that built up for the Olympics in years past, no one wants to come to our party!"

It will be interesting if we gradually learn there is more unrest in the Sochi region than we're learning from Pootie's "fair and balanced" Big Green RT.

I have an irritating fear that Sochi is a nightmare waiting to happen. People keep referencing BERLIN '36, but my mind keeps drifting towards MUNICH '72...but with extra-special 21st Century horror.

[Behind the Aegis]

8. I, sadly, share your "irritating fear."

If this article is correct, then I would support a boycott of the Olympics. As it stands, I do not. The Olympics are not supposed to be about politics, but if our (really, any gay athletes/spectators) are at risk, then it should be yanked from Russia or suffer a worldwide boycott.

[MADem]

13. What better way to "up" the Russian medal count?

Just arrest any competitor in a close contest on "suspicion of being gay."

We know they cheat, they were famous for juicing back in the day.

[Behind the Aegis]

14. I wasn't even thinking of that, I was thinking more of...

Russian Skinheads ....Torture Gay Teens

[MADem]

22. That too...but Pootie Poot's reputation is that he keeps a tight rein on his reign...

You have to wonder if he doesn't "allow" some crime to happen. I know I do. I don't think all this "homophobic law" talk AND violence against the Russian LGBT community are happening in isolation from one another. It doesn't seem coincidental to me at all--it seems orchestrated.

Kind of like a warning shot on the one hand, and a teapot whistling on the other...gotta let the thugs blow off a little steam, and maybe even tell them how to do it...?

[Behind the Aegis]

24. Perhaps we should call it what it reall is...a Progrom.

At least that is how I am feeling about recent events regarding the GLBT community in Russia.

[one_voice]

16. Boycott the games...

the athletes should boycott too.

and

Fuck Russia!

[Behind the Aegis]

18. I was against a boycott, despite my feelings about the Russian law.

The Olympics should not be about politics, it should be about friendly competition and ability. That said, if the Russians are going to arrest gay athletes/spectators, then the games should be yanked or boycotted. Given the recent violence against gays (especially gay youth) in Russia, I really do fear something very nasty could happen.

to you! Been thinking of you!

[petronius]

32. I think you're expressing a very appropriate balance. While the hatred, violence,

and bigotry bubbling up in Russia are far from trivial, the Olympics ought to be an event distinct from internal and international conflict. However, if the Russian government allows the event to be coopted by the anti-gay elements - as is seeming to be the case - then it should be boycotted.

At this point, given the public statement from someone in the government, I'd expect a very clear expression from a higher level that the safety, comfort, and dignity of all participants will be strictly respected at the games (back-channel "assurances" don't cut it)...

[davidpdx]

50. Well the the Olympic Committee had another option

Last edited Thu Aug 1, 2013, 10:04 AM - Edit history (2)

when they voted for Russia. Yet they still the site. Pyeongchang (South Korea) lost by four votes and will be hosting the Winter Olympics in 2018. I'm wondering if they shouldn't be speeding up the infrastructure projects in case Russia's plans fall apart. One of the largest projects is a high speed rail line between Seoul and the site in the east.

[MADem]

51. South Korea should be given the chance to do it right, like everyone else.

I'd rather see them split up the events if they couldn't fit it all in one place; like say, have the ice skating in Norway, and the skiing - luge stuff in Canada, and the gymnastics any-old-where, rather than give Pootie the play. They could do a huge TV ceremony, with big screens at the different locations--it would be a tech challenge, but interesting nonetheless.

The venues they would choose would have to be "equality friendly" of course!

[davidpdx]

54. The only way splitting it up would work is among European countries

since so many sit close together. It would be hard to make it economically feasible with sites too far away from each other. The host countries already spend way too much money as it is.

We get our chance 5 years from now and I may take the train out and go to one event just to be able to say "I've been to the Olympics".

As far as "equality friendly" I find it ironic the country that people have been praising for its treatment of Edward Snowden want to arrest anyone they think is gay at the Olympics. The Olympics is suppose to be a politically free environment, yet Putin has refused to observe that tradition. I'd think this would be a legitimate reason for a boycott of the games given any gay athlete would be in fear they'd be thrown in jail. Then again, maybe it's just Putin shooting his mouth off and he'll back down under pressure before the games.

[MADem]

55. They have anti-gay laws on the books and Pootie is in favor of enforcement.

I think it's just a horrible situation. Unacceptable, really.

[davidpdx]

56. Yeah it is

I can't fathom how the Olympic Committee would allow the games when athletes could be in danger. It's pretty stupid.

If DUers are really for human rights they'll support a complete boycott of Russia until they repeal the laws.

We'll see how the wind blows now that this information is out.

[TexasTowelie]

5. So much for figure skating.

They're rigging the competition so that Plushenko wins the gold medal again.

[BeyondGeography]

7. No Tchaikovsky at the skating rink either?

What a fucking joke.

[Rex]

9. So they have GOP assholes there too.

The GOP mentality is akin to a disease imo.

[cali]

10. wow? you think that mentality came about with the advent of the GOP?

It didn't. Not even close.

[Rex]

12. No, but I see they have the same stupid anti-human agenda as the GOP.

IOW, there are assholes in all countries more concerned about how you look and your sexuality, then say unemployment or the ever decreasing value of the dollar for average workers.

[Lancero]

11. Well, thats one way...

To increase the odds of a Russian athlete winning a event.

Instead of better training for the athlete, just arrest some of the competition.

[Initech]

15. They should lose the bid to host future games then.

Until these ridiculous draconian laws are repealed. Let's see how much tourism money they lose.

[Puzzledtraveller]

17. cold blooded

[Warpy]

19. Well, it's a way to increase their medal count

Arrest any foreign athlete deemed to be a threat to Russian wins on the suspicion that s/he is gay. Don't turn him/her loose until after the event.

Honestly, I don't see how any country with gay team members can possibly expose their people to this sort of danger.

[Dawson Leery]

20. Russia should be banned from participating in the next Summer/Winter games (16'/18').

[Archae]

23. Vitaly Milonov will get caught with gay prostitutes in 3-2-1...

[Behind the Aegis]

25. Sometimes a cigar is nothing but a cigar...and...

...a heterosexual homophobe is nothing but a heterosexual homophobe.

[Archae]

26. Every year some well-known and rabid homophobe gets caught.

I seriously doubt the Russians will be any different.

[Behind the Aegis]

29. And every year, we have rapid homophobes who aren't caught because they are heterosexuals.

[theHandpuppet]

37. Hear, hear!

Time that people stopped blaming gays for their own victimization. I'm sick of it. Hate crimes just don't happen because the perp identifies with the victim. Yep, there really are heterosexuals that hate GLBTs that much. Face it, people.

[theHandpuppet]

36. +1000!

Thank you.

[DonCoquixote]

27. Vlad, you idiot

You had a golden chance to make the West look bad, thanks to the fact you and your pet Edward Snowden exposed what was hiding under Uncle sam's trousers, but then you go and remind us why people used to fear the Soviets, and also reminded us that Modern Russia is now the Soviet Union without all that egalitarian, leftist, atheist, good stuff.

[burnodo]

28. You've got some SERIOUSLY funny GIFs there!

[JI7]

30. is this the same one who called for Public Beatings of Gays ?

[backscatter712]

31. As much as I like Stoli, it's on my boycott list until further notice. n/t

[Behind the Aegis]

33. kick

[dembotoz]

34. boycott--the safety of the athletes must be the number one concern

sound like the russkies don't want to ensure that

[functioning_cog]

35. I would think the next step for GOP is to arm the athletes

[Chipper Chat]

38. Psssssst - hey Russia:

Don't forget to ban all teams with any pink in their uniforms.

[YOHABLO]

40. This isn't about the safety of gay Olympic athletes. It's about Russia's homophobic laws.

[ut oh]

41. It's interesting that the far right anti-gay civil liberties has

comrads in Russia...

They're going to love that.

[Lugal Zaggesi]

42. How do Russians know who's gay or not ?

Have their police perfected gaydar ?

[awoke_in_2003]

43. Boycott it now. nt

[randome]

44. Politicians pontificate.

This is no more valid than a Congressman calling Snowden a traitor. They all love to shoot their mouths off.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Don't ever underestimate the long-term effects of a good night's sleep.[/center][/font][hr]

[dusty trails]

45. Oh damn !

There go my plans out the window.

And I was in the mood for some borscht.

[roamer65]

46. I think we should leave it up to the athletes.

Last edited Wed Jul 31, 2013, 09:00 PM - Edit history (2)

Do like Britain did for the 1980 Moscow games. British athletes were allowed to go under the Olympic committee flag they chose. Since we cannot guarantee the safety and well-being of our athletes, it should be their choice. Then we will get to see exactly where each athlete stands on the issue.

[TeamPooka]

47. Milonov is threating Putin's Olympics profits. I wonder how he likes his polonium with his cereal?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

48. The guy's got issues...

[blkmusclmachine]

49. BOYCOTT THE OLYMPICS

BOYCOTT

BOYCOTT

BOYCOTT

BOYCOTT

[DeSwiss]

52. K&R

[SummerSnow]

53. He's probably gay himself