Russian lawmaker threatens arrests of gay Olympians, tourists
Russia isn’t making it easy for LGBT-rights advocates to stomach the idea of participating in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Iin an article entitled “Russian lawmaker : We will arrest gay athletes, tourists at Olympic Games,” Gay Star News reports:
A Russian lawmaker has said the ‘gay propaganda’ law will remain enforced during the Sochi Winter Olympic Games in 2014.
Vitaly Milonov, co-sponsor of the ‘non-traditional relationships’ bill, said the government cannot decide when to selectively enforce the law.
It comes as the International Olympic Committee said the Russian government had ‘assured’ them all athletes and spectators will be safe from arrest.
The vaguely worded law prohibits discussion of homosexuality or displays of same-sex affection wherever children could see it, which apparently includes on the Internet, on television and at sporting events.
For more information, read the full article in Gay Star News: Russian lawmaker: We will arrest gay athletes, tourists at Olympic Games
For an overview of boycotts planned and already under way, read “Boycotting anti-gay Russia: Vodka, maybe Olympics too.”
For examples of Russia’s extensive anti-gay crackdown, read these article from the blog’s archive.