I visited Russia 5 years ago. During the tour one of our group asked our Tour Guide how members of the LGBT community were treated in their culture. She said, in all earnestness, “We don’t have any of those here.” Well, it seems that President Putin has discovered a few and he doesn’t like it. Laws have been passed stating that anything that hints at homosexuality is against the law. Strict penalties have been set to punish anyone who advocates in anyway for the LGBT community. In one article it said, children in same-sex parent households will be removed from their home. Even wearing a rainbow pin is against the law and punishable. It is disgraceful.
Russian homophobia has opened up a conundrum for some athletes who will be going there for the Winter Olympics in a few months. Should they withdraw? Should they be obvious in their support? Are they at risk if they are known to be Lesbian or Gay? Cross-Country check-up on CBC radio on Sunday had this as their topic. One of the suggestions, which I thought had merit, is to make a statement in the opening ceremony. As each country marches in have following behind each lead flag-bearer the country’s Ambassador to Russia carrying the rainbow flag. The Ambassador has immunity in Russia and it would make a statement about each country’s support of all people regardless of sexual orientation.
I am not sure what I would do if I were an athlete in this situation. It feels that any position is unfair and potentially difficult. In the end I do not think an athlete should stay away from the games when many have trained almost their whole life for this opportunity. This could be an opportunity for the IOCC to show some courage and name this Russian discrimination for what it is and tell Putin that he cannot discriminate against a sector of society because of his bigotry.
What do you think? Is there a way to bring global awareness to this travesty without punishing the athletes?
