Russia and the IOC Agree: Don’t Be Openly Gay at the Olympics
78 replies, posted
[QUOTE=SGTNAPALM;41849915]The purpose is two-fold; not only does Russia hemorrhage millions, if not billions, of dollars as a direct result, and it shows that organizations that stand by and let human rights violations happen will simply not be tolerated. It sends a message to both Russia and the greedy; if you fuck with our rights, you will bleed money. It's in your best interests to submit to our will.[/QUOTE]
Funny thing is, boycotting the Olympics has been speculated by many to actually strengthen Putin's popularity in Russia.
[quote]Grigory Golosov, of Russia’s Center for Democracy and Human Rights Helix, told The Washington Post in January that the anti-gay laws are actually intended to create a backlash. “This is part of a concentrated effort by the Russian authorities to create a new political cleavage between the conservative, pro-Putin majority and the more liberal, pro-Western minority,” he said. “They have to invent issues around which such a cleavage can be manufactured.”[/quote]
[url]http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/07/30/the-real-reason-boycotting-russian-vodka-is-unlikely-to-improve-gay-rights/[/url]
In many ways, if much of the West boycotted the games it would change little, perhaps even worsening the conditions.
The Russian LGBT Network actually is also against boycotts, on the premise that boycotting will have little to no effect. In fact, attending may prove to wield more clout against the law, then not attending.
[quote]While we value diversity in approaches and welcome all efforts that forward justice and equality, we will contribute the work of the LGBT Network to the promotion of proactive participation in the Games instead of a boycott.
We believe that calls for the spectators to boycott Sochi, for the Olympians to retreat from competition, and for governments, companies, and national Olympic committees to withdraw from the event risk to transform the powerful potential of the Games in a less powerful gesture that would prevent the rest of the world from joining LGBT people, their families and allies in Russia in solidarity and taking a firm stance against the disgraceful human rights record in this country.
In retrospect, the record of the Olympic boycotts is not utterly promising in regards the potential to bring a change; look at the 1980 boycott of the Moscow Olympics, the 1984 ‘retaliation’ boycott of the LA Games, or at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. What is remembered from 1968 is neither the number nor the names of those who boycotted the Games, but the ‘human rights salute’ by Tommie Smith and John Carlos who rose black-gloved fists and bowed their heads on the victory stand as a sign of resistance to racial injustice and solidarity with everyone who fought for equality and human rights.
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Full text
[url]https://www.facebook.com/LGBT.Russia/posts/10151497348327644[/url]
Furthermore, cancelling the Olympics would hurt many non-Russian buisness as well, things like television stations like NBC who have paid $775 million for the rights to broadcast the games,
[img]http://i.imgur.com/upC3vUK.png[/img]
gj Rinfect
[QUOTE=Glitchman;41846804]As much as I think Russia is being terrible, boycotting the Olympics will crush the spirits of all those who have trained for their entire lives, whether they are gay or not.
If I were gay, and was going to be in the games, I would obviously feel terrible that I couldn't be open about my sexuality, but still concentrate on my athletic performance and be the best athlete I can, for all the countries out there who are more open-minded[/QUOTE]
Having to wait for the next games is far better than being thrown into a siberian gulag...
[QUOTE=TestECull;41852685]thrown into a siberian gulag...[/QUOTE]
At least you'll be ready for the winter games!
[QUOTE=SGTNAPALM;41848648][url=http://www.olympic.org/sponsors]Here's a handy list of companies to boycott.[/url][/QUOTE]
Well, I'm not using any of their things then. Also we need to scare the Russians into compliance with the demands of the right path; make them think that they are about to enter a period of great suffering, with no way to fight back.
[QUOTE=ironman17;41853788]Well, I'm not using any of their things then. Also we need to scare the Russians into compliance with the demands of the right path; make them think that they are about to enter a period of great suffering, with no way to fight back.[/QUOTE]
To be frank, how do you propose that?
[QUOTE=Glitchman;41846804]As much as I think Russia is being terrible, boycotting the Olympics will crush the spirits of all those who have trained for their entire lives, whether they are gay or not.
If I were gay, and was going to be in the games, I would obviously feel terrible that I couldn't be open about my sexuality, but still concentrate on my athletic performance and be the best athlete I can, for all the countries out there who are more open-minded[/QUOTE]
I'm divided about the feelings of the athletes.
From one side, they've trained so much that they could just not say anything about it throughout the event (because its the Olympic games, not a gay pride parade or anything even closely related), but on another side, someone might just get arrested for one of the most idiotic and biggoted reasons ever.
Better just keep quiet and try to avoid crazy russians...
The only good thing (if there is any) coming from this would be the rest of the (supposedly) sane part of the world looking at Russia, watching the colossal fuck up they are doing with all this stupid witch hunt, and start changing their views once and for all.
C'mon America! Don't go down the same way the commies did! :v:
[QUOTE=SGTNAPALM;41849915]The purpose is two-fold; not only does Russia hemorrhage millions, if not billions, of dollars as a direct result, and it shows that organizations that stand by and let human rights violations happen will simply not be tolerated. It sends a message to both Russia and the greedy; if you fuck with our rights, you will bleed money. It's in your best interests to submit to our will.[/QUOTE]
Except most of the athletes and countries don't really give that much of a shit about rights of gay people and want to go to Olympics in order to not waste their money, time and hard work.
It's people's desires and money against other people's rights, almost directly. Not that it worked in the past.
[video=youtube;wt2u4dlZBHE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wt2u4dlZBHE[/video]
I feel this is kinda relevant
[QUOTE=bravehat;41846848]Well thankfully the winter olympics is a regular occurance, they can go to the fucking next one.[/QUOTE]
Generally, unless you're a super human athlete, you pretty much get one shot at the Olympics.
[img]http://i.imgur.com/M87ZjZ3.jpg[/img]
The Nazi's anti-gay laws were also not enforced during the Olympics. Russia - less accommodating than Nazi Germany and the first nation in history to threaten to arrest Olympians
[QUOTE=TestECull;41852685]Having to wait for the next games is far better than being thrown into a siberian gulag...[/QUOTE]
I very much doubt any athletes are going to be anything more than detained while under an international microscope.
Russia might be cunty, but its not stupid. A lot of this is political jockeying and dickwaving, I would be legitimately surprised if any openly gay athletes were actually arrested.
A public display of "homosexuality" , w/e the fuck that means, I'm guessing something thats actually designed to attract attention, might be different.
I'm guessing that it's be used as a law of convenience; athletes falsely accusing other athletes of being gay to increase their chance of winning.
It's a silly scenario, but I wouldn't be surprised if that happened.
[QUOTE=Glitchman;41846804]As much as I think Russia is being terrible, boycotting the Olympics will crush the spirits of all those who have trained for their entire lives, whether they are gay or not.
If I were gay, and was going to be in the games, I would obviously feel terrible that I couldn't be open about my sexuality, but still concentrate on my athletic performance and be the best athlete I can, for all the countries out there who are more open-minded[/QUOTE]
i'm glad that you'd be able to perform well despite being in a country that would throw you in jail if you were real about who you really are. why can't all the athletes be like you?
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