The 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi have already been the the center of some controversy, and it doesn’t sound like that’s going to change anytime soon.
The main issue has been a Russian piece of legislature that allows the government to detain, and even expel any foreigner who is gay or is spreading pro-gay “propaganda,” and many have wondered if these laws applied to athletes and tourists.
A couple of weeks ago, the International Olympic Committee released a statement assuring fans that the winter games would not be affected by the laws:
“The International Olympic Committee is clear that sport is a human right and should be available to all regardless of race, sex or sexual orientation. The Games themselves should be open to all, free of discrimination, and that applies to spectators, officials, media and of course athletes. We would oppose in the strongest terms any move that would jeopardise this principle.”
Well apparently Russian lawmaker Vitaly Milonov/ the man behind the anti-gay legislature didn’t get the memo, because he says the rules apply to EVERYONE, including the athletes and spectators:
“I haven├óΓé¼Γäót heard any comments from the government of the Russian Federation, but I know that it is acting in accordance with Russian law. And 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├óΓé¼Γäót have the authority.”
Not surprisingly, the LGBT community has spoken out against the backwards laws, and some are even considering boycotting the winter games altogether!
Last we checked, the Olympics were supposed to be an opportunity for the best athletes in the world to compete in their respective sports, and their sexual preference should not make a difference.
The fact that the Russian government is turning this into an anti-gay issue is just absolutely disgusting.
[Image via Dmitry Lovetsky/AP Images.]
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