and then have the courage of our convictions to insist “NO AMERICAN IN SOCHI” until the Russians rescind their anti-gay laws and start treating LGBTI people with the dignity they deserve.
By Melanie Nathan, August 07, 2013.
As soon as the Russian DUMA legislated its anti-gay Propaganda law, we here at OBLOGDEE called for an all out ban on the Olympic games scheduled to be held in SOCHI in 2014. We have received a lot of flak for interfering in the good lives of wonderful athletes and how awful it would be to expect them to make any sacrifice. Here on OBLOGDEE we have called out members of the gay community, Human Rights Campaign, and members of the U.S. Congress who have called for “measures” to ensure the safety of U.S. athletes and visitors, because none have had the courage to dip their toes into the deep waters of calling for an ALL OUT BOYCOTT of SOCHI or the removal of the games from Sochi, Russia, by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Thank you to Stephen Fry for this perfectly correct advocacy to U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron, as depicted in his open letter below. His remarks about the 1936 Hitler Olympic Games, coupled with my remarks about the South African Apartheid model, in my earlier article, makes the perfect argument, for why in good moral conscience we cannot allow the Olympic Games to go on in Sochi.
If the games go on in SOCHI, then the sponsors, notwithstanding all the good some have done for LGBTI communities in the past, must bear the repercussions of the loss of our gay dollars, and athletes will not be our heroes. We must call them out by name – athletes and sponsors alike.
And please when you comment – do not waste my time with excuses and half-measures like suggesting our athletes wear rainbow wristbands and wave rainbow flags, and nor the idea of gay winners coming out on podiums, – two minute sound bytes and a one second embarrassment of Putin will not change anything. Russia has much more to lose if we boycott than if we show up waving rainbow flags.
President Obama noted last night on the Jay Leno show: Putin and Russia have “a big stake in making sure the Olympics work.” But how can the Oympics work unless the law is repealed? As the President said: “I think they understand that for most of the countries that participate in the Olympics, we wouldn’t tolerate gays and lesbians being treated differently.” Which simply means Russia must change its law before we can compete there. No one is above the law of any country when in that country, and so in truth, unless the law is repealed in Russia no one is safe from detention if they should choose to come out, hold hands in public or wave a rainbow flag.
LETS DO IT NOW GAY LGBTQI AMERICA – let us all make a very loud noise: “NO AMERICAN IN SOCHI” until the Russians rescind their anti-gay laws and start treating LGBTI people with the dignity they deserve.
An Open Letter to David Cameron and the IOC
By Stephen Fry
August 7th, 2013
Dear Prime Minister, M Rogge, Lord Coe and Members of the International Olympic Committee,
I write in the earnest hope that all those with a love of sport and the Olympic spirit will consider the stain on the Five Rings that occurred when the 1936 Berlin Olympics proceeded under the exultant aegis of a tyrant who had passed into law, two years earlier, an act which singled out for special persecution a minority whose only crime was the accident of their birth. In his case he banned Jews from academic tenure or public office, he made sure that the police turned a blind eye to any beatings, thefts or humiliations afflicted on them, he burned and banned books written by them. He claimed they “polluted” the purity and tradition of what it was to be German, that they were a threat to the state, to the children and the future of the Reich. He blamed them simultaneously for the mutually exclusive crimes of Communism and for the controlling of international capital and banks. He blamed them for ruining the culture with their liberalism and difference. The Olympic movement at that time paid precisely no attention to this evil and proceeded with the notorious Berlin Olympiad, which provided a stage for a gleeful Führer and only increased his status at home and abroad. It gave him confidence. All historians are agreed on that. What he did with that confidence we all know.
Putin is eerily repeating this insane crime, only this time against LGBT Russians. Beatings, murders and humiliations are ignored by the police. Any defence or sane discussion of homosexuality is against the law. Any statement, for example, that Tchaikovsky was gay and that his art and life reflects this sexuality and are an inspiration to other gay artists would be punishable by imprisonment. It is simply not enough to say that gay Olympians may or may not be safe in their village. The IOC absolutely must take a firm stance on behalf of the shared humanity it is supposed to represent against the barbaric, fascist law that Putin has pushed through the Duma. Let us not forget that Olympic events used not only to be athletic, they used to include cultural competitions. Let us realise that in fact, sport is cultural. It does not exist in a bubble outside society or politics. The idea that sport and politics don’t connect is worse than disingenuous, worse than stupid. It is wickedly, wilfully wrong. Everyone knows politics interconnects with everything for “politics” is simply the Greek for “to do with the people”.
An absolute ban on the Russian Winter Olympics of 2014 on Sochi is simply essential. Stage them elsewhere in Utah, Lillyhammer, anywhere you like. At all costs Putin cannot be seen to have the approval of the civilised world.
He is making scapegoats of gay people, just as Hitler did Jews. He cannot be allowed to get away with it. I know whereof I speak. I have visited Russia, stood up to the political deputy who introduced the first of these laws, in his city of St Petersburg. I looked into the face of the man and, on camera, tried to reason with him, counter him, make him understand what he was doing. All I saw reflected back at me was what Hannah Arendt called, so memorably, “the banality of evil.” A stupid man, but like so many tyrants, one with an instinct of how to exploit a disaffected people by finding scapegoats. Putin may not be quite as oafish and stupid as Deputy Milonov but his instincts are the same. He may claim that the “values” of Russia are not the “values” of the West, but this is absolutely in opposition to Peter the Great’s philosophy, and against the hopes of millions of Russians, those not in the grip of that toxic mix of shaven headed thuggery and bigoted religion, those who are agonised by the rolling back of democracy and the formation of a new autocracy in the motherland that has suffered so much (and whose music, literature and drama, incidentally I love so passionately).
I am gay. I am a Jew. My mother lost over a dozen of her family to Hitler’s anti-Semitism. Every time in Russia (and it is constantly) a gay teenager is forced into suicide, a lesbian “correctively” raped, gay men and women beaten to death by neo-Nazi thugs while the Russian police stand idly by, the world is diminished and I for one, weep anew at seeing history repeat itself.
“All that is needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing,” so wrote Edmund Burke. Are you, the men and women of the IOC going to be those “good” who allow evil to triumph?
The Summer Olympics of 2012 were one of the most glorious moments of my life and the life of my country. For there to be a Russian Winter Olympics would stain the movement forever and wipe away any of that glory. The Five Rings would finally be forever smeared, besmirched and ruined in the eyes of the civilised world.
I am begging you to resist the pressures of pragmatism, of money, of the oily cowardice of diplomats and to stand up resolutely and proudly for humanity the world over, as your movement is pledged to do. Wave your Olympic flag with pride as we gay men and women wave our Rainbow flag with pride. Be brave enough to live up to the oaths and protocols of your movement, which I remind you of verbatim below.
Rule 4 Cooperate with the competent public or private organisations and authorities in the endeavour to place sport at the service of humanity and thereby to promote peace
Rule 6: Act against any form of discrimination affecting the Olympic Movement
Rule 15 Encourage and support initiatives blending sport with culture and education
I especially appeal to you, Prime Minister, a man for whom I have the utmost respect. As the leader of a party I have for almost all of my life opposed and instinctively disliked, you showed a determined, passionate and clearly honest commitment to LGBT rights and helped push gay marriage through both houses of our parliament in the teeth of vehement opposition from so many of your own side. For that I will always admire you, whatever other differences may lie between us. In the end I believe you know when a thing is wrong or right. Please act on that instinct now.
Yours in desperate hope for humanity
Stephen Fry
READ re Apartheid Model and Russian SOCHI Games –
President Obama Condemns Russia’s Anti-Gay laws
by Melanie Nathan on August 6, 2013 in Advocacy & Activism, Boycotts, CULTURE, EVENTS, LGBT, MEDIA, NEWS, Russia, WORLD
Ask IOL to move the Olympics from Sochi. By Melanie Nathan, August 07, 2013. U.S. President Barack Obama today criticized a new Russian law cracking down on gay rights activism, saying he has “no patience for countries that try to treat gays and lesbians and transgender persons in ways that intimidate them or are harmful […]
San Francisco LGBT community calls on Mayor Ed Lee to Boycott Russia
by Melanie Nathan on August 6, 2013 in Advocacy & Activism, EVENTS, Law, LGBT, MEDIA, NEWS, Rally, Russia, TOURISM, WORLD
Russia Spills Gay Blood We Spill Russian Vodka at SAN FRANCISCO CITY HALL By Melanie Nathan. August 07, 2013. “Russia Spills Gay Blood We Spill Russian Vodka” read my sign today, as I joined my fellow activists from Gays Without Borders, when we poured Russian vodka onto San Francisco’s street outside City Hall and called […]
Gay teenager kidnapped and tortured by Russian homophobes believed to have died from injuries
by Melanie Nathan on August 5, 2013 in Advocacy & Activism, CRIME, EVENTS, LGBT, NEWS, Rally, Russia, U.S.A., WORLD
YOU SPILL GAY BLOOD WE SPILL RUSSIAN VODKA | Noon San Francisco City Hall August 06, 2013. By Melanie Nathan, August 05, 2013. PINKNews is Reporting and we have not yet independently verified: The gay teenager who was kidnapped and tortured by Russian neo-Nazis has died from his injuries it has been claimed. Spectrum Human […]
HRC Leading U.S. Gays in failing to take the ultimate stand against Russia’s anti-Gay laws
by Melanie Nathan on August 5, 2013 in POLITICAL VIEWS, LGBT, NEWS, WORLD, Russia, SPORTS, EVENTS, Sport, Olympics, Advocacy & Activism, Boycotts
“The contradiction glares when HRC asks the IOC to ensure “special treatment’ for American athletes and visitors. I find it unconscionable of HRC not to be taking the ultimate stand for a BOYCOTT of the Olympic SOCHI Games in Russia and using their immense power and membership to demand that IOC move the games out […]
U.S. House Reps send Letter to Kerry about Anti-Gay 2014 Olympic Games in Russia
by Melanie Nathan on August 2, 2013 in Advocacy & Activism, NEWS, Olympics, Russia, SPORTS, WORLD
Rep. Nadler Leads Bipartisan Letter to Protect LGBT Rights at 2014 Olympic Games in Russia By Melanie Nathan, August 2, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, lead a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State John Kerry regarding the protection […]
Gays to Fly Rainbow Flag Outside Russian Consulate in San Francisco
by Melanie Nathan on August 2, 2013 in Advocacy & Activism, EVENTS, LGBT, NEWS, Rally, Russia, WORLD
Protest Part of Global LGBT Solidarity Campaign By Melanie Nathan, August 02, 2013. San Francisco, CA — On Saturday, August 3, 2013, at 12:00 pm (noon) San Franciscans will gather at the Russian Consulate at 2790 Green Street (near Baker Street) to protest new anti-gay laws passed in Russia that subject LGBT Russians and foreign […]
Russian Sports Minister confirms Olympic athletes are NOT exempt
by Cathy Kristofferson on August 1, 2013 in Advocacy & Activism, LGBT, NEWS, Olympics, Russia, Sport, SPORTS
“…but if he goes onto the street and starts propagandizing it, then of course he will be held accountable” By Cathy Kristofferson, August 1, 2013 A series of tweets from @r_sport, who bills themselves as the “Official host news agency for @Sochi2014″, alerted me to renewed confirmation that Sochi Olympic athletes will NOT in fact be […]
Protests of Russian Violations of LGBT Human Rights at U.S. Embassy and Consulates
by Cathy Kristofferson on July 31, 2013 in Advocacy & Activism, LGBT, NEWS, Rally, Russia, U.S.A.
By Cathy Kristofferson, July 31, 2013 Today kicked off Embassy and Consulate protests in the U.S. against Russia’s LGBT human rights violations with actions in New York City, Washington D.C., and San Francisco. We have blogged on the protests as actions people can take to help raise awareness about the worsening conditions for the Russian […]
10 Actions you can take against Russia | shocking video of Russian Gay Teen torture
by Melanie Nathan on July 26, 2013 in Advocacy & Activism, CRIME, LGBT, NEWS, Russia, VIDEO, WORLD
10 ways to STOP the Russian terror of Gays By Melanie Nathan, July 26, 2013. Anti-gay sentiment and violence against LGBTI people has been a Russian habit for some time. However in recent months it has escalated with lack of basic law and order, exacerbated by Vladamir Putin’s legislative onslaught through various laws that criminalize […]
U.S. Christian Extremist Sees Russia’s New Homophobic Laws as Model
by Cathy Kristofferson on July 22, 2013 in Advocacy & Activism, LGBT, MARRIAGE EQUALITY, NEWS, RELIGION, Russia
“I can’t point to any country of the world today that is a model for the rest of the world, except perhaps for Russia” Scott Lively, radical Christian extremist By Cathy Kristofferson, July 22, 2013 For a while we have been following the ramped up anti-gay extremism taking place in Russia, which culminated with the […]
Russia arrests Dutch tourists on gay propaganda charges
by Cathy Kristofferson on July 21, 2013 in Advocacy & Activism, CRIME, LGBT, NEWS, Olympics, POLITICAL VIEWS, Russia, TOURISM
How will this not happen during the Olympics! By Cathy Kristofferson, July 21, 2013 Updates posted below. So it has begun. Russia today arrested tourists ‘violating’ their new anti-gay propaganda law.About an hour ago, the LGBT Russian Network posted on their Facebook wall: “URGENT NEWS! In Murmansk city (North Russia) 3 Dutch citizens detained by the […]
Is Belarus following Russia’s footsteps to ban ‘gay propaganda’?
by Cathy Kristofferson on July 10, 2013 in Law, LGBT, NEWS, POLITICAL VIEWS, Russia
‘Protecting children from the ”advancement and promotion of homosexuality, especially among minors.”‘ By Cathy Kristofferson, July 09, 2013 A few weeks ago rumor had it that Belarus was looking to be the first country in Europe to re-criminalize homosexuality by amending its Criminal Code, to punish gays with up to 10 years imprisonment and confiscation of their […]
Renewed calls for Olympic boycott as gay arrests continue in Russia
by Cathy Kristofferson on July 2, 2013 in CRIME, EVENTS, Law, LGBT, NEWS, Olympics, Organizations, Rally, Russia, Sport, SPORTS
An action to demonstrate the danger of the new anti-LGBT laws By Cathy Kristofferson, July 2, 2013 Amidst current graphic protests, there is a renewed call for the boycott of the Sochi Olympics, as gay arrests continue in Russia following President Putin’s signing into law the nationwide so-called “anti-propaganda bill,” banning the so called ‘promotion’ […]
Violent Arrests at pro-Gay Rally in Russia
by Cathy Kristofferson on June 29, 2013 in LGBT, NEWS, Pride, Rally, Russia
Clashes lead to arrests and detentions at St. Petersburg “Ravnopraviye” Pride Event By Cathy Kristofferson, June 29, 2013 Today in St. Petersburg, Russia pro-and anti-gay supporters clashed at a gay pride event organized by ”Ravnopraviye” (Equal Rights.) The event had been sanctioned by the authorities. The rally-march was organized to protest recent legislation banning “promotion of non-traditional […]
Same gender couples risking arrest apply for Marriage Licenses in Russia
by Cathy Kristofferson on June 28, 2013 in Law, LGBT, MARRIAGE EQUALITY, NEWS, Russia
by Cathy Kristofferson, June 28, 2013 Today 5 same-gender couples applied for marriage licenses in the registry office in the Admiralty Side, a district of St. Petersburg, Russia. Officials at the registry explained that the licenses are only intended for couples of opposite gender and sent them on their way. This is a bold move in […]
Call to Boycott Olympics in homophobic Russia reminds of Apartheid South Africa
by Cathy Kristofferson on June 19, 2013 in Law, LGBT, NEWS, Pride, RELIGION, Russia, Sport
“If they feel strongly about human rights they should boycott the Olympics in Sochi.” By Cathy Kristofferson, June 18, 2013 RUSA LGBT, a Russian-Speaking American LGBTQ group in New York City, is calling for a boycott of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. The lower house of the Russian Duma last week unanimously passed their […]
Russian bill set to stop adoption to nations allowing same-sex marriage
by Melanie Nathan on June 18, 2013 in Adoption, CULTURE, FAMILY, Law, LGBT, NEWS, Parenting, Russia, WORLD
The Bill is based on myth as expounded by Russian Deputy Speaker, who said: “If a child ends up with a homosexual couple, it could cause severe damage and the child ends up with a distorted perception of reality.” By Melanie Nathan, June 18, 2013. As same-sex marriage is increasing in acceptance around the world, […]
Protests and arrests as Russia’s State Duma passes anti-gay promotion bill unanimously
by Cathy Kristofferson on June 11, 2013 in Law, LGBT, NEWS, Russia
By Cathy Kristofferson, June 10, 2013 Update 6/30: President Putin today signed this bill into law. Proponents argue it is for the protection of children, but critics still allege it part of a broad crackdown on Russia’s LGBT community. For his part Mr. Putin tells international critics “We ask you not to interfere in our […]
Scott Lively poised to cause more anti-gay persecution | An odious letter to the Russian people
by Melanie Nathan on February 23, 2013 in FAMILY, LGBT, NEWS, RELIGION, Russia, WORLD
“The purpose of my visit was to bring a warning about the homosexual political movement which has done much damage to my country and which has now taken root in Russia. This is a very fast-growing social cancer that will destroy the family foundations of your society if you do not take immediate, effective action […]
Russia | Pussy Riot Rock Group Arrested Protesting Putin & Sex Tourism
by Melanie Nathan on January 20, 2012 in CULTURE, MEDIA, NEWS, Russia, VIDEO, WORLD
Russian police detained a punk group called Pussy Riot on Friday after they performed a protest song criticising Vladimir Putin next to Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow. The Pussy Riot an all-female band, wearing brightly colored mini-dresses and balaclavas, were arrested after their protest song slammed the “Putin-system,” prostitution, and sexism. The all female group, […]
Five Gay Activists Arrested as third Russian Region Passes Anti-gay Laws
by Melanie Nathan on December 30, 2011 in Uncategorized { Edit }
By Guest writer Paul Canning, Dec 30, 2011 And Other Russian matter for consideration- A third Russian region has passed an anti-gay law banning LGBT organizing and public actions. Five activists have been arrested whilst protesting the law. Kostroma, a region located 300 km north east of Moscow, has become the third Russian region to […]
Pro-Democracy Russian Movement Homophobic Rejection of LGBT Protestors
by Melanie Nathan on December 30, 2011 in LGBT, NEWS, Russia, WORLD
“He was then taken away by the police out of the demonstration and told he will not be allowed to use the rainbow flag in the protest any further.” 30 December 2011 | By Guest Dan Littauer LGBT political activists in Russia are reporting abuse at Pro-Democracy rallies across the country through gay protestors being […]
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to be Quizzed Over anti-gay laws.
by Melanie Nathan on December 13, 2011 in LGBT, NEWS, Russia, WORLD
by Paul Canning, Dec 13, 2011- The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton, told activists today that she would raise the discriminatory laws at the EU-Russia summit. She received in Brussels a 246,000 petition along with the Presidents of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBT rights, Michael Cashman and Ulrike […]
Dutch tourists accused of gay propaganda freed
by Cathy Kristofferson on July 22, 2013 in Advocacy & Activism, CRIME, Law, LGBT, NEWS, Russia
“They were discussing human rights when suddenly the police and migration officers burst inside.” By Cathy Kristofferson, July 22, 2013 Today a court hearing scheduled in Murmansk, Russia for the Dutch tourists arrested on ‘gay propaganda’ charges. It would seem that the judge did not hear the matter but rather “returned the case materials for […]
Moldova secretly adopts anti-propaganda law
by Cathy Kristofferson on July 18, 2013 in Europe, Law, LGBT, NEWS, Pride, WORLD
“Politicians specifically sought to avoid debating the bill in public.” By Cathy Kristofferson, July 18, 2013 An article introduced in the Parliament of Moldova on May 23rd titled “Public activities with negative impact on minors” has now been secretly passed and adopted. Today, the European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBT Rights is reporting that “A new […]
Hypocrisy of Edward Snowden | If he was gay Putin could arrest him
by Melanie Nathan on July 15, 2013 in Advocacy & Activism, LGBT, NEWS, Russia, WORLD
by Melanie Nathan, July 15, 2013. Does Edward Snowden know that if he said one pro-gay or LGBTI supportive word Putin could arrest him and he could go to jail? I find Snowden’s actions in complimenting the Russian authorities and their human rights record self serving, unnecessary and nothing more than one big Putanic arse-lick […]
Academy Award winner risks arrest by waving rainbow flag in Red Square Moscow
by Cathy Kristofferson on July 4, 2013 in Advocacy & Activism, LGBT, NEWS, Russia
Will the Olympic athletes attending the Sochi Olympic Games follow her lead? By Cathy Kristofferson, July 4, 2013 Academy award winning actress Tilda Swinton yesterday risked arrest by standing with a rainbow flag in Red Square Moscow in clear violation of Russia’s new national so-called anti-gay “promotion” law. The picture was posted to Twitter by […]
Scott Lively incites war against the homosexualization of states
by Cathy Kristofferson on July 2, 2013 in Law, LGBT, NEWS, RELIGION, SCOTUS, U.S.A.
“But resistance is NOT futile and we must never surrender to evil.” By Cathy Kristofferson, July 2, 2013 Posting on his blog today, SPLC-designated anti-gay hater Scott Lively boasted that his prediction came to fruition; yes he was right that one of the two SCOTUS marriage cases did indeed “go to the homosexual movement.” But […]
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I agree!!! Full boycott!!!! Excellent way of presenting the facts and the info!!
Reblog: http://hrexach.wordpress.com/
Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
Full boycott!!! Stop the games … these are not only the gay American athletes who are at risk. What about those from other countries?? Listen …. they are arresting people for tweeting about gay topics and relationships!! What does that say???? SMH ….