Openly gay athletes hoping to take part in the 2014 Winter Games are getting mixed messages of support from their Russian hosts and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). After officials in Sochi, Russia defied the Olympic Charter to further the country's descent into anti-gay madness by banning Pride House, activists have started to demand intervention from the IOC. Details follow. 

Though the Olympic Charter expressly prohibits discrimination of any kind, the IOC isn't exactly rushing to enforce its own rules and help gay international athletes feel comfortable when they head to Sochi. 

"London 2012 has a LGBT Pride House but Russia won’t allow it at Sochi. This is part of an official crackdown on LGBT communities and visibility in Russia," said LGBT activist Peter Tatchell. "It is an attack on freedom of expression and association. We are urging the International Olympic Committee to intervene. This ban is contrary to the equality and non-discrimination provisions of the Olympic Charter."

The IOC did release a statement vaguely concerning the anti-gay development in Sochi but fell far short of condemning it or promising to uphold its anti-discrimination policy.

"The Olympic Charter does not allow for discrimination against those taking part in the games," an official told Gay Star News. "The IOC is an open organization and athletes of all orientations will be welcome at the games."

Comments (1)

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written by OhMyGay, August 20, 2012

There are things beyond the banning of the Pride House that are at stake here. If a national law banning the promotion of homosexuality is put in place in Russia it is feasible that Russia could ban any openly LGBTQ athletes from taking part in the games because they would technically be promoting homosexuality. Even if they allow them to take part there would be the question of whether or not a tweet by an athlete about being LGBTQ could warrant an arrest or fine. Or even people there to assist the athletes or just watch the games, holding a partner's hand, a kiss, a tweet, a blog post etc.
The IOC has yet to talk about what they will do to ensure a) the safety of LGBTQ athletes in Sochi but b) to ensure that they will be allowed to participate and won't suffer penalties from the host nation.

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