Is there a role for the public at the Sochi Winter Games?

The New York Times/Opinion Page
Op-Ed Contributor/Published: July 21, 2013
Russia’s Anti-Gay Crackdown/By HARVEY FIERSTEIN

Recap: “...On July 3, Mr. Putin signed a law banning the adoption of Russian-born children not only to gay couples but also to any couple or single parent living in any country where marriage equality exists in any form.“

“...With Russia about to hold the Winter Games in Sochi, the country is open to pressure. American and world leaders must speak out against Mr. Putin’s attacks and the violence they foster. The Olympic Committee must demand the retraction of these laws under threat of boycott.”

Another view is to get people from all over the world who will be participating or attending the Russian winter games to uniformly wear patches, pins, etc. that proclaim their disgust of the Russian imperial backward edicts. The object is to point out the continued repression of humanity. It would be hard to ignore such a thing in front of the attending media.

Both concepts are hard sells for different reasons. Both can easily fail due to apathy, at home and abroad.

Surely, there are also other ideas. What have you heard and what do you think?
By MachineToole | 09/12/2013 10:58 PM | 6 comments
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  • Of course they will attend. But will there be solidarity from the surrounding ... tourists?
    art4you 09/13/2013 06:20 PM
  • The IAAF wasn't real supportive of protest efforts by athletes at the recent World Track and Field Championships in Russia. They told a Swedish athlete that painting her nails rainbow could be a violation of the IOC policy forbidding athletes from making political statements. So any significant protest effort at the Olympics will need to come from fans. But considering the law, will gay fans even attend?
    BearinFW 09/13/2013 06:11 PM
  • Of course I know what the slogan wants to say (I worked for over 20 years in LGBT), and just because of this I think that a slogan that needs explanation or addition (all people are equal to law) is not the best to choose. Despite people being different, they should be granted same possibilities. That has not necessarily to do with laws - that blind people can own and use guns just follows the law-premise - (though law may help), but with the recognition that everyone has the right to the same protection from whatever government. Protection in the broadest meaning you want to think of...!
    But I believe there is no dissens between us.
    art4you 09/13/2013 06:10 PM
  • art4you... We are all different... That makes each of us all the same. I neither demand more or expect more... but I will definitely not accept less. I believe it would be better to be a top athlete who happens to be gay than a gay athlete who is a champion. I want to stand out from a crowd if I so choose and not because someone(s) mandates that I must do so. This defines ‘equal rights.’

    I too was at GG Amsterdam, Vancouver, New York, and San Francisco. I have not participated since our sports community split due to infighting ‘hissy-fits.’ Perhaps I will again if the two groups ever grow up. Until then, I will continue to participate in both Straight & Gay Track and Field events between clubs.
    MachineToole 09/13/2013 01:34 PM
  • art4you, I think MacineToole's slogan means all people (no matter how different they are from each other) should be treated fairly and equally under the law.
    rjzip 09/13/2013 12:59 PM
  • It was the olympic committee who made it impossible for the gay games to be called gay olympics just before I participated in the Amsterdam Gay Games. That is not so long ago, is it? Until now I never have seen an official paper of the international olympic committee giving support to gay and lesbian athletes. So they hardly can make pressure on russian politics while no beeing specially gay friendly internally.

    It would be wonderful, if the attending public would make some kind of public statement in favour of human rights.

    I don't think the slogan 'all people are equal' is the right one, btw. I am NOT equal to heterosexual people and it was a long and personal fight to get there and to get this DIFFERENCE guaranteed.
    art4you 09/13/2013 12:50 PM