Russia will enforce anti-gay law during Olympics

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia will enforce a new law cracking down on gay rights activism when it hosts international athletes and fans during the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, the country's sports minister said Thursday, appearing to contradict assurances to the contrary from the International Olympic Committee.

Russia's contentious law was signed by President Vladimir Putin in late June, imposing fines on individuals accused of spreading "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations" to minors, and even proposing penalties for those who express these views online or in the news media. Gay pride rallies also are banned.

Mutko emphasized that the law wasn't designed to punish anyone for being gay or lesbian. But like the Russian lawmakers who authored the bill, Mutko said athletes would be punished only for propaganda, a word that remains ambiguous under the new law.

"The corresponding law doesn't forbid non-traditional orientation, but other things: propaganda, involvement of minors and the youth."

The law specifies punishment for foreign citizens, to include fines of up to 100,000 rubles ($3,000), time in prison for up to 15 days, deportation and denial of reentry into Russia.

While activists and organizations supportive of gay rights have called for a ban on Russian-made products like Stolichnaya vodka in bars across North America, they have yet to find a unified response to the Sochi games.

Instead of a boycott of the Olympics, athletes have made individual gestures and called for gestures of protest, such as a pride parade, to be held during the games.

The IOC said last week that it had received assurances "from the highest level of government in Russia that the legislation will not affect those attending or taking part in the games." It pledged to ensure there would be no discrimination against athletes, officials, spectators and the media in Sochi.

http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/news-world/20130801/OLY-Sochi-Gays/

[Calypso 464]

So the much talked-about protests a few months back didn't work.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/08/us-russia-germany-idUSBRE93707J20130408

[GandD 5,966]

I love that pic. I love everything about it.

[Ban Hammer 13,586]

putin gave them 2 thumbs up.

[GandD 5,966]

I dunno, I really enjoy the look on Angela Merkel's face. It just screams, "Oh lord........"

[Danno 1,228]

When in Rome do as the Romans do..... err don't go.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

When in Rome do as the Romans do..... err don't go.

Roman and Greek cultures were about the gayest ever on the planet. The Roman Catholic clergy are just carrying on a two thousand year old tradition.

[Karee 4,191]

I guess Thailand will have to leave their cheerleaders in Bangkok.

[Danno 1,228]

Roman and Greek cultures were about the gayest ever on the planet. The Roman Catholic clergy are just carrying on a two thousand year old tradition.

Not just the gayest culture but sex with boys was normalized too.

THis is Russia's unanimous concern.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I guess Thailand will have to leave their cheerleaders in Bangkok.

Philippines has a whole gay culture as well, well represented in the education, legal, and entertainment fields. I am waiting for the first flood of bakla to arrive in the US now that DOMA has been set aside. But I agree, the Thai's and Brazilians seem to have the most convincing gender benders.

In Soviet Russia, you don't change sex, sex changes you!

Not just the gayest culture but sex with boys was normalized too.

THis is Russia's unanimous concern.

[GandD 5,966]

I was waiting for a yakov smirnoff joke. Only a matter of time.

[Darnell 8,479]

Oh, I am thinking will be an influx of the Gheys during the Olympics, going in with the expressed purpose of getting arrested for being Ghey, and clogging up the Ghey detention centres ... I think about 20,000 arrests on a weekend should do the trick, really.

Bring some cash, fellas, it's gonna get fun.

[Darnell 8,479]

So the much talked-about protests a few months back didn't work.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/08/us-russia-germany-idUSBRE93707J20130408

Those protests weren't about being ghey and participating in the Ghey Society in Russia, though.

Edited August 1, 2013 by Darnell

[Danno 1,228]

Oh, I am thinking will be an influx of the Gheys during the Olympics, going in with the expressed purpose of getting arrested for being Ghey, and clogging up the Ghey detention centres ... I think about 20,000 arrests on a weekend should do the trick, really.

Bring some cash, fellas, it's gonna get fun.

The thing of it is, this law and the rising hostility in Russia is due mostly to outsiders trying to hold parades and all this stuff.

It is well known most gay Russians are not interested in all that which is why only a few dozen people bothered to protest the law.

If outsiders try to make grand statements and insist Russia bow to their vision it will only hurt the gay russians as tensions are raised.

So when the foreign Grand standers make their statements and then fly home, the Gay folks in Russia will face the consequences.

So basically they are lighting fires others will feel the heat from.

[Darnell 8,479]

ya, sorry, I get that.

Really, I do.

-=-=-=-=-=

FWIW, SFO and the fun bits of Austin will be empty during the Olympics, so my wife and I (a monogamous, heterosexual couple) will be vacationing in SFO and Austin during that time.