I'm not sure that boycotting the Olympics would work - did it make any difference back in 1980? 

I'm thinking a visible protest by the teams would be good. What if every country had rainbow-themed uniforms? I would think that would get people talking about the issue.

You could argue that Jesse Owens did far more by participating in the 1936 Olympics and destroying the Nazi myth of "Aryan superiority" by winning four gold medals than a boycott would have done.

Of course, the problem was that too many back home still believed in the myth.

Owens later wrote that he wasn't snubbed by Hitler, who didn't meet him or shake his hand but did send him an inscribed photograph after the Games, but by FDR, who refused to invite him to the White House or honour him in any way, because he was afraid that being seen honouring a black man would cost him the south in an election year.

Owens also opposed the 1980 Olympic boycott. He'd probably oppose this proposed one too.

As suggested by others, 1980 proved the futility of a boycott. All that happened was that the Soviets and their allies turned around and boycotted LA 1984. In all likelihood, there would be even fewer nations boycotting this time than there were in 1980.

IMO, the government should not make the decision to boycott nor should the Canadian people. As Mark Tewksbury suggested, that would be making the athletes political pawns or at least set the precedent for doing so. Let the athletes decide for themselves. We know that there are a fair number of LGBT folks in that group and maybe they themselves feel that there are better ways to protest Russia's laws than by leaving the games. Give them then chance to show that (I love somegal's suggestion).

This does point up once again the problem with the whole Olympic setup. The IOC is a body that is rigidly focussed on one thing and one thing only - can the country run the Games successfully. They really don't give a flying f&*k about what else is happening in the country at the time of bidding or during the games. We'll run into issues again in Rio and probably again after that. Only changing the focus of the IOC or getting the Games into a permanent venue on some kind of politically neutral territory will ultimately resolve the issue. Since the IOC is a self-selecting, non-democratic body, this kind of wholesale reform is a long way off.

As for an economic boycott of Russia, we don't do much business with them to start, IIRC. They do much of their trade with Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. It is worth looking at but I'm not sure how much damage we could do without the support of other nations.

Mendalla

The 1976 boycott of the Montreal Olympics, arguably help raise awareness that lead to the  end apartheid in South Africa.

However boycotts are so yesterday, and would fail to be effective. And unlike previous boycotts there are other actions that could be done.

Especially when one considers that the majority of the athletes  involved in the winter gay are from gay friendly areas.   Scandinavia, western Europe, Argentina, Chile, Canada, Northern USA, California. Along with the massive number of fans from these area, there is a unique opportunity to do something in Russia during the Winter games. 

The winter gay? 

No, the winter gaymes.

blush

I'd be competing in the summer straight, but - hey - to each their own!

we're living in a bad tom clancy novel

Imagine what the Winter Gaymes would be like. The speed skating track would have to be a circle instead of an oval, because competitors wouldn't be allowed to go straight.

/try the veal

In the winter gaymes all teams would definitely be wearing rainbow-themed uniforms! 

My objection is that the country that the games is being held is also the country that is commiting well documented atrocities.  Am I the only person who feels that it would have been completely wrong for countries to send their teams to Germany if they had known that Hitler was busy exterminating the Jews?  I mean it seems rather crazy to me to think that people would actually believe that it would have been fine to think that the Olympics could happily have continued next door to the camps.  Well that is what is happening to the GLBT community in Russia.  I recognize that GLBT people are not (as far as we know) being put in gas chambers, but laws are being passed that make their very existence against the law.  And it is against that background that the IOC is asking the world community to bring its respective teams to participate in this huge event with all of its  political and financial benefits to the host country.  Which happens to be the same country that is  perpetrating this terror against its citizens.

I just don't see how we can be a part of it.  

But it seems that the idea of a boycott is not of interest.  So many of you out there are very careful to always drink free trade coffee.  I assume from this stance that you have decided that it is important to you to support free trade and not make yourself complicit in the economic deprevation of your fellow men and women in other countries.  If nothing else, I will not watch the Olympics this year or have anything to do with the Olympics unless our country can come up with some way of making a very large statement in support of the GLBT community.  How about others?  

I'd love to see our athletes, and the athletes of other countries, take a stand for LGBT rights during the games. Put the heat on Putin and friends to ignore or address such a move. If the promise not to enforce the law for visiting athletes has been made, then take advantage.

There was interesting discussion about this on CBC Radio 1 this morning - probably available on podcast later today. 

elisabeth, Thanks for this discussion. It highlights the diversity in fighting for rights. Jesse Owens may have chosen to run to show Hitler was wrong. He may have, had all the later info been in, decided not to. People may have said, "We want to get into Germany and see what is going on". Others may have said, "I am not going there." Some during the civil rights movement some were followers of Malcolm X and others Martin Luther King Jr. Some felt holding a sign and marching was the thing to do. Some did not think risking death, getting hit with a fire hose or attacked by dogs was for them. That they did not join the march does not mean they did nothing. They may have educated, talked about... made friends of another hue and many inroads in the same battle. The same is true of the fight for women's rights. Some burned their bra, some stayed at home and taught their daughters different... same war, different front The same diversity exists in the GLBTQ community. Some are Stonewall types and others are not. Some are "here, queer, get used to it". Others are not. Some want to be different and some want to be "the same". Some people will advocate boycott. Some will advocate taking their gay selves there to show that there is nothing wrong with being gay. Some will say, "how is it punishing Putin for my work to go to waste?" Others will say, "how can you give the economic boost to this country?" The battles for equality are long and hard and take place on many fronts. You can be a gunner or a medic or even a peace worker and still be on the front lines.

SG interesting comments. Carolla yes I listened to that program I agree it was an interesting program. A comment that stood out for me was that because of the Russian government's stance on LGBT people they will censure out all positive depictions of LGBT people. Thus, if we send our Canadian athletes and we take the risk of putting a positive message on their uniforms, it won't matter anyway because the majority of people of Russia won't see our statement anyway. The other point that was made in the CBC interview made by one of the interviewees was that people in the LGBT community in Russia still wanted the games to continue. I guess there would be a certain concern of black lash against the LGBT community if the Olympics were cancelled. As well they too are excited about the games coming to their country. Still, for myself as I said before, unless the government can come up with something spectacular in the way of making a statement in support of the LGBT community, I just can't see me being a part of it this year.

Inclusiveness is a big part of the Olympic Spirit. Visitors and athletes from the LGBT community are or should be just as welcome as any other. There are subtle but effective messages to demonstrate that. For instance, buttons saying: Inclusiveness Includes LGBT

I heard the program yesterday on CBC 1, and was interested in the comments of Nikolai Alexeyev - identified as a prominent LGBT rights advocate in Russia, the founder and chief organizer of Moscow Pride - who said he was totally opposed to a boycott of the Sochi Olympics and (although he didn't say this outright) I got the impression that he wasn't overly impressed by people from outside Russia essentially telling the LGBT community in Russia what the best way to handle the situation is. He wants to erect a "Pride Village" in Sochi and invite the Olympic athletes to it, and he advocates athletes making statements by wearing something identifiably gay-friendly.

As for myself I rarely watch the Olympics anyway. They're mostly about politics and not sports, as this whole discussion demonstrates.

I have sat posing myself the question, "Where would I refuse to go?" In my lifetime, I would have had to refuse to be in North America... oh crap... I would have had to head into outerspace or live under the sea with Ariel ,The Little Mermaid (quite an odd fantasy). I would have had to forgo all schooling. I would have not had a home, because my folks were not very good with things.... I would have not worked. I would not have met my ex in Texas.I would not have been willing to move to Canada in 1999 because there was no equal marriage. I would have to refuse to visit my folks in the US because of what state they live in or the ones I would have to travel through. I would not be able to travel to most places, like Cuba, Barbados... If I refuse to limit my life, my enjoyment of this big and bold queer life... to give up what I like, what I value, what I enjoy...based on other's opinions of me.... why would I expect an athlete to? Why do I ask that they take a stand in a way I do not?

in the winter gaymes, even the mountains would join in

in the winter gaymes, everyone would have their own, unique, event...even if others participated on the 'same track', the track would be unique to each athlete...

I do agree that having 'Pride House' at the Olympics is a positive and forward thinking initiative - and I'm proud to see that it was initiated at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver/Whistler (yeah Canada!), repeated in London in 2012.  Hopefully it can go forward again in 2014 in Sochi - but clearly there are more challenges.  This is a recent & helpful article I think - 

http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/instead-boycott-group-calls-ioc-host-sochi-pride-house310713

I do watch the Olympics & enjoy them, respecting the enormous committment & skill of the athletes.  

Hi Inna:

The Rainbow Range of Russia, eh?

-----

Lots of vodka comes from Canada now. Not sure where I'm going to get my medium-range missiles from.

Stephen Fry wrote a very moving open letter to David Cameron and the IOC that probably only Stephen Fry could write:

http://www.stephenfry.com/2013/08/07/an-open-letter-to-david-cameron-and-the-ioc/

The man really makes you think.

what a beautiful human being

Yes, I too admire him. And I admire his admiration of Wagner's music, even though Wagner was strongly anti-Semitic, and Hitler, the worst Jew hater of all times, loved Wagnerian music.

Well, Jae, if you love Beethoven, you better realize that he was a big failure when it came to social relationships and responsibilties.

Well, every genius has his downside, eh?

hahahah

He was? Wow, a kindred spirit! Thanks Arminius, I like him even more now.

A sinner like all of us, eh?

But a divinely inspired composer nevertheless.

Apparently 45000+ people have signed a petition calling on the IOC to move the 2014 Games to Vancouver, since it still has the facilities from 2010 pretty much intact (save, IIRC, the village which was supposed to become condos or subsidized housing or something). Some gay celebs (e.g. Star Trek actor George Takei) have helped promote the idea. Russia and its allies (not that there's many of those) would likely boycott but it would be less contentious and boycott-prone than Sochi. I doubt that the IOC would do it, though, unless it was clear that a major boycott was looming or major sponsors started raising a ruckus. In fact, boycotting major Olympic sponsors like Coke might be they key. If the money started saying "move the Games out of Russia", the IOC just might listen.

Mendalla

Most of the money for the Olympics comes from the US. The single biggest ammount comes from the US television rights. It is too late to back out of those, unless there is some sort of morals clause concerning humna rights.  I suspect other contracts with sponsors are already sign and unbreakable.

Howevr those in the US that support free speech, and LGBT rights might make the  Sochi Olympics an event that no mater what amount the sponsors have paid, they will support an alternate "Freedom Rings Games"

moving something the size of the olympics at this late date is crazy....cancelling is practical

why? picture hotel bookings alone.  

Do you think vancouver hotels are sitting empty awaiting for the event.

next, think volunteers

how would you get that kind of volunteers to spin up that fast

then think ....security, tv, infrastructure, 

these things don't just happen, and it isn't that many months to the olympics.

Although I like the idea of Vancouver getting them again, I wonder if they could be postponed for a year and then brought back here? That would give more time to get the infrastructure in place.

If it were postponed, people who are training aiming to peek at the Olympics.....wouldn't.

This is a rather interesting article

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/08/07/john-bairds-defence-of-gay-right...

Seems the south of the border bigotry has made its way here....

Regards

Rita

I signed one petition to the IOC, and one to Coke. Maybe, as you said, the one to Coke will pull more weight.

It's funny in a way. REAL women only exist to fight Lesbians and transgender women,(FAKE women lol)  and than when the tories back tracked on gay marriage, they started using gvt funds to appease them. There funding is totally taxpayer based now.

SO now they decide to out John Baird and denouce Canada's conservative government all the while supporting the Russian and Ugandian gvts and saying they have a higher moral standard than the Conservative gvt  in Ottawa.

Guess who's federal gvt funding will be cut next year?

Hardly. Fake (REAL) women have been around for a long time. They're vestigial, like an appendix in a human, or tiny leg bones in a whale...

Thinking of calling my banker today and asking them not to authorize any payments to Lada dealers :D

REAL Women have been around since the eighties (at least) so I'd say south of the border bigotry has been around for a while. If they really represented a significant constituency, then Sun News should be making money like its sibling Fox in the US and they aren't.

Nothing to cut. REAL Women prides themselves on not taking any government grant money.

Mendalla

I was under the impression that they have recieved project funding from the federal gvt as recently as 4 years ago. I assume they still do.  There web site just states that they recieve no gvt funding for daily operations. No mention is made of project funding.

http://www.realwomenofcanada.ca/donate/

It has been many years now that the gvt has moved away from funding most NGO operating expenses, and to funding only projects of NGOs.

The web site of their is a funny, they declare that Canada is no longer a democracy and that Canadians are  living under a homosexual tyrannical minority. 

http://www.realwomenofcanada.ca/real-women-of-canada-media-release-john-bairds-abuse-of-office/

In the mean time Canada might be forced to stay home, after Russia sports minister today said that athletes at the games should stick to athletics, and the law against promoting homosexuals, or gay pride will be enforced.   Those who quietly have gay  sex will not be arrested but any athlete (gay or straight) wearing a gay pride pin, or a rainbow flag, or publicly  supporting gay rights will be arrested and jail under the law.

Which I feel is fair. They shouldn't harass people based on who they are, but as a sovereign state they should have the right to lawfully police certain actions which they have duly determined are detrimental to their society.

I am not surprised you feel this is fair Jae......

I get it .... its ok to be gay .... just don't dare to actually be ok with being gay...

It's ok to be gay as long as you are ashamed of yourself and hide......

A model policy for Canada perhaps?

You really are on a tear about this stuff.....

Now ... if you were a woman .... you could be  "REAL Women"  woman

Rita

Someone needs to explain to me how wearing a rainbow pin or any item of rainbow-themed clothing could possibly be deemed "detrimental to society", in ANY kind of practical way. Are they on a mission to eradicate natural rainbows, too? ("No, dear, don't you dare look in the sky - Godde is endorsing gay rights! If you look at a rainbow, you'll be turned into a pillar of salt!")

It's scapegoating, and in this way the comparison to Nazi laws in the mid-30's applies. The stated reasons include the idea that homosexuality is a threat to the survival of the state, as if homosexuals are really onto something and if all the kids turn to homosexuality, there will be no one making new Russian babies.

I can't speak for Russian kids, or even all Canadian kids, but I'm pretty sure no amount of pro-GLBT propaganda could have prevented a teenaged me from being obsessed about girls.

In fact, I'll go one step further and suggest that anyone who thinks that gay posters and discussion would tempt them to try gay sex, may just actually be gay themselves. That is, if you are really threatened by gay people, enough to beat them or imprison them for so much as pointing out that homosexual attraction is an option....then I'm guessing you're probably a repressed homosexual yourself. The rest of us guys who have been exposed to Brad Pitt movies and David Beckham posters for years couldn't care less about them, but we'll pay special attention when their wives are on TV.

So, to most of us, the idea that gays could kill the desire for men to sleep with women, or even vice-versa, is laughable. It'll never happen, unless you're already playing for the other team, in which case no amount of Victoria Secret commercials or Ryan Gosling films are going to change your mind, either.

So, assuming Russian lawmakers are not all repressed homosexuals, are Russian authorities trying to make popular scapegoats out of gays in a way eerlily reminiscent of 1936? Or are they just doing what the Russian Orthodox Church wants them to do because that's what they think the bible wants them to do?

I don't know, but it's scary. I don't think the games will be moved. Not now. I can see a lot of athletes being very vocal about GLBT rights while they're there. I'm anxious to see if the competing countries tell their athletes to be quiet on the subject, and I'm concerned for the safety of the athletes who will undoubtedly try to speak up.

It's scapegoating. Your family is mess because of gays. Not because you are unemployed,or  underemployed because of corruption or due to ilness cause by a polluted country, poor education, and unsafe working conditions .