The Point

The Point

The Point

The Russian Olympics Controversy

Russia’s recent anti-gay and lesbian legislation has sparked enormous controversy over the upcoming winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
On June 30, 2013, Russian President, Vladimir Putin, signed this statement into a law that “no propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations to minors”.
Russia has always had a limited history in terms of gay rights but this recent law aimed at limiting the rights of the lesbian, bisexual, gay, and transgender (LGBT) community, has angered many Russian citizens. These violations include bans on activities initiated by gay citizens, fines to gay rights groups, and regional laws banning the propaganda of homosexuality to minors. Additionally, on January 26th the mayor of Sochi, Russia released a statement that there are no gay people in Sochi. Although Putin denies it, these attacks on people of the LGBT community are becoming increasingly common.
Russia runs under an illiberal democracy; however, the recent controversy surrounding the anti-gay laTws are stemming from the 2014 winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. According to the Huffington Post, Putin expresses a conflicting statement to Olympic attendees, “Russia welcomes all gay people but asks that they leave all minors in peace.” On one hand he states that he is not prejudiced in any way and even knows some gay people himself. But on the other hand, though downplayed, the law implemented in June is still in place. Putin claims the law has not affected anyone and that Russia even supports gay people such as Elton John. However, hate crimes suggest otherwise. These hate crimes include raping gay men with beer bottles and then brutally killing them, whipping members of the LGBT community in public, imprisonment for unreasonable amounts of time, using the Nashi (a secret army employed by Putin) to kill these gay and lesbians, and attacks and stabbings that go without punishment. The amount and intensity of these crimes have risen by 13% according to BBC news, and is still on the rise.
Though the Olympics are more gay- friendly in general, athletes are still keeping quiet about their sexual orientation. Therefore, most of Russia’s anti-gay attitude in terms of the Olympics is directed to attendees and not the athletes. In response to this, many politicians including, United States President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and French leader François Hollande will not be attending the winter Olympics. Obama states, “One of the things 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 that we’re seeing there. And if Russia doesn’t have gay or lesbian athletes, then that would probably make their team weaker.” Putin is taking these remarks and no-shows personally and claims they are very rude and offensive seeing as the Olympics is not a sport among politicians but athletes.
Another dilemma surrounding this big issue is with a popular credit card company Visa. They are big sponsors of the upcoming winter Olympics and many Americans don’t like that. There have been many complaints and threats of using new credit card companies by many citizens. According to history teacher Ms. Varela, “It is 2014 and we need to change to the times. Everyone should send Visa a message and we need to work to end this.”
Despite the controversy and boycotts by the LGBT community surrounding this years Olympics in Russia, openly gay United States skater, Johnny Weir insists that he would never let this drama and talk get him down: “I have worked way too hard and my parents have sacrificed so much to have me let go of my dreams because a few people don’t agree with my sexuality.”

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