Russia's new anti-gay laws and the Olympics

With the Winter 2014 Olympics set to open in Russia in about 6 months, it's puzzling to me why the Russian Duma has just passed anti-gay laws which President Putin has signed into law.

These laws may not be as physically draconian as places like Uganda or Saudi Arabia (laws criminalizing gay sex were abolished years ago), but they are chilling in their breadth.

They are now defining as "gay propaganda" anything that presents gays in a favorable light.  Any sort of advocacy or protest activity is forbidden and the person subject to arrest.  Even tourists from other countries are subject to laws that would prohibit same-sex couples from holding hands in public.    And they had already banned adoptions of Russian babies, not only to same-sex couples but even to heterosexual married couples who reside in a U. S. state that allows gay marriage.

So how is this going to impact the Olympics in Russia -- both competing athletes and tourists?    The International Olympics Committee claims that it has an agreement with the Russian authorities that people attending the games will not be subject to the laws.    But today the Russian politician responsible for the legislative ban says that cannot be, because it is the law and the government has no right to suspend it.

They will probably sort this out before the Opening Ceremonies.   But we can't wait until the last minute.   Some people have started petitions asking the U. S. not to participate in the games because of this.    Athletes have responded saying that unfairly penalizes athletes who have trained their whole lives for this moment, and the next chance is four years away.

Fortunately this has come up far enough in advance that a solution will surely be found.   Pressure needs to come from the IOC for more than just a promise that people attending the games will not be arrested.    I think the games should not be held in such a climate.   If the laws had been in effect when the choice of location for the 2014 games was made, it should certainly have influenced the choice.

Ralph

PS:   Just found this new article that attempts to explain this as purely political.   Putin's popularity is in decline, and one measure he has taken is to court the Orthodox Church.   There is also concern about the declining birth rate and the survival of the nation -- so there is an active governmental push for babies and family life.

But perhaps the main point is that Putin is seeking "an Other" as a common enemy to try to unite his lagging following.

I suppose ignorance and bigotry as motives are harder to get rid of, whereas political motives can turn on a dime -- or just be suspended during the Olympic games.   But that is small comfort to those who are victims of the increasingly common anti-gay attacks encouraged by this.