Make Olympics in Russia the gayest ever

[William769]

(CNN) -- You don't have to be gay or even Russian to feel the wrath of the Russian government's homophobia. You could go to jail if you are "pro-gay," whatever that means. And that's under just one of a growing number of hate-infused bills becoming law at a time when, as it happens, Russia is preparing to host the world in the next Winter Olympics.

The perverse anti-gay legislation is inflaming an atmosphere of persistent intimidation and at times deadly violence against Russian gays and lesbians.

The question now is: What should the rest of the world do?

With the 2014 Winter Olympic Games coming to the Russian town of Sochi on the Black Sea coast, President Vladimir Putin and his country are about to receive a massive influx of publicity and cash. But exactly what kind of publicity -- and how much cash?

The world has an opportunity to let Putin -- who signed all the laws -- and the politicians he dominates know just how repulsive their actions are. There is a chance of helping Russia LGBT activists persuade the government to reverse the most offensive legislation.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/02/opinion/ghitis-anti-gay-russia-games/index.html

[NYC_SKP]

2. K/R

Damn autocorrect!

[awoke_in_2003]

3. Boycott it. nt

[blkmusclmachine]

4. +1

[davidpdx]

5. Wait a second, I though Russia was the almighty savior

What the fuck could they do wrong? They took in poor Edward Snowden and broadcast only the truth on Russia Today. DUers were signing their praise before this. Oh wait, it turns out they were the devil. Whoops! Maybe DUers should stop promoting their "dear" network and their upstanding values.

The Olympic Committee massively fucked up by awarding the games to Sochi Russia. Russia won by six votes to Pyeongchang (South Korea) who will be hosting the 2018 games.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

6. None of these laws were in effect -

nor were there hints of them when the games were awarded to Sochi. I suspect their choice would have been different if they had been.

[davidpdx]

7. That maybe

The games were probably awarded 3 or 4 years ago.

Maybe it's time the Olympic Committee put in its bylaws that if a country who is awarded the games passes laws that are detrimental to the athletes then the bidding for the games can be opened back up. There has to be some mechanism to at least have a threat of pulling the games if something like this happens. Right now it seems like there is not much that can be done except a boycott. Since not many of us were going to go to Russia anyway, it would have to be against the sponsors to make it effective.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

8. They were awarded in 2007 --

By the time these draconian laws came into effect hundreds of millions of dollars had been invested by the Host nation and venues created. There was zero time for another location to be chosen and be up and running by the opening of the games. At this point, I think the very best thing would be for the world's athletes to make a bold statement at the games -- they have a unique opportunity to shove Russia's face in the hate and bigotry they have enshrined with these laws. I hope to see more than one winning athlete take their victory lap with not only their home flag but a Pride flag.