Concerns for LGBT athletes and supporters during the Games began as early as March 2012, when a Russian judge blocked the establishment of a Pride House in Sochi, ruling that "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships" would "undermine the security of Russian society", and that it conflicted with public morality and the country's policies "in the area of family motherhood and childhood protection."[1] The majority of protests, however, centred on the passing of a law in June 2013, which banned the distribution of "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships" among minors. The propaganda law had been characterized by the Western media and other critics as a ban on "gay propaganda", arguing that it was broad enough to ban any public display of LGBT symbols and suppress LGBT culture. The law itself was also considered to have caused an increase in homophobic violence, and an increase in the arrest of pro-LGBT protesters.[2][3][4][5][6]
The implications of the law on the then-upcoming Winter Olympics were a major concern among athletes and the Western media, as the Olympic Charter contains language explicitly denouncing all forms of discrimination. Early international pressure was leveraged to compel the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to move the Olympics to another country, as well as pressure on Olympic sponsors to take a stand for LGBT equality. In tandem, calls to boycott and protest the Olympics before, during, and after the games also went out from various organizations and groups, and a number of Olympic athletes came out as a symbolic protest of the law. Prior to the Games, similar pressure was placed on major Olympic sponsors, and several non-sponsors also made public statements in support of LGBT rights. Several national politicians declined to attend the Games, which some Western media outlets attributed as connected to the legislation, while others stated that few leaders normally attend the Winter Games as it is not a "must attend" event.
Activists painted a pedestrian crossing outside the Russian Embassy in Helsinki in rainbow colours in protest
(June 2013) Russia passed a law with near unanimous support by Russian lawmakers, and signed by President Vladimir Putin, banning the "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations", and "imposes fines for providing information about the gay community to minors."[7]
(29 June 2013) Dozens of gay activists were beaten and arrested at a gay rights rally in St. Petersburg citing the new law.[8][9]
(July 2013) A multifaceted campaign is launched to raise awareness about the gay rights situation in Russia, and stem future Olympic bids going to countries who violate human rights.[7]
(July 23, 2013) The first arrests of foreign citizens under the ban against gay propaganda took place in Murmansk, when four Dutch citizens, attending a human rights seminar, were also filming a documentary on gay life in Russia.[10][11]
(14 August 2013) U.S. runner Nick Symmonds became "the first international athlete to denounce Russia's law against "gay propaganda" on the country's soil."[12] He had just won the silver medal in the 800 m race in Moscow, and dedicated the medal to his gay and lesbian friends and called for LGBT equality.[12]
(26 August 2013) Australian snowboarder Belle Brockhoff came out as gay to bring attention to Russia's LGBT propaganda law, and for lesbian and gay athletes.[13]
(29 August 2013) Human Rights Campaign sent letters to the ten Worldwide sponsors of the International Olympic Committee, Dow Chemical, Coca-Cola, General Electric, McDonald's, Procter & Gamble, Panasonic, Samsung, Omega, Visa Inc., and Atos, to take steps to stem violence against LGBT people including a clear and unequivocal public position in opposition to anti-LGBT laws, denouncing violence targeted against LGBT people and demanding accountability, asking the IOC to obtain written commitments for the safety of LGBT athletes and attendees, and rejecting future Olympic bids from countries that outlaw support for LGBT equality.[14]
(5 September 2013) Canadian Olympic speed skater Anastasia Bucsis publicly came out as gay "in response to Russia's anti-gay laws".[15]
(25 September 2013) Two gay rights activists were detained by police officers outside the Sochi Organizing Committee office in downtown Moscow. They had been holding a poster, "Homophobia is Russia's Disgrace" during a protest.[7]
(15 December 2013) French President François Hollande first kissed a male citizen (openly against Russian laws) then joined German President Joachim Gauck and EU Commissioner Viviane Reding in boycotting the Sochi Olympics in protest of the law.[16]
(20 December 2013) The U.S. official delegation, in a surprise announcement, would not include any members of President Barack Obama's family, or an active Cabinet secretary, the first time in at least twenty years.[17] The delegation instead would be composed of openly gay athletes, "a clear jab at Russia's recent anti-gay laws."[18]
(29 December 2013) Olympic gold medalist Brian Boitano came out as gay publicly; he had been named as part of the American Olympic delegation by President Barack Obama. The actions were widely seen as a response to the anti-gay laws enacted.[19]
2014 (pre-Games)edit
(10 January 2014) The U.S. State Department issued warnings for Americans traveling to the Olympics. Specifically for LGBT people it noted that "Russia has in place a law that bans the 'propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations' to minors. It said authorities have been vague about defining 'propaganda' and that the law applies to foreigners. A conviction on the charge could result in a fine, a jail term and deportation."[20]
(16 January 2014, or before) The annual "Orthodox Calendar" is released, featuring drawings of naked men, with some proceeds used to combat anti-LGBT laws in Russia. The calendar was created to criticize homophobic views in Eastern Orthodox communities and the former Soviet Union.[21]
(17 January 2014) Russian president Vladimir Putin, in a meeting with Olympic volunteers explained that their rainbow-colored uniforms were not considered violating the Kremlin's anti-LGBT initiatives because "We do not have a ban on non-traditional sexual relationships ... We have a ban on the propaganda of homosexuality and paedophilia."[22] The rainbow flag and colors are an international symbol for LGBTQ communities. Conflating homosexuality with pedophilia has been a common practice in the opposition to the gay rights movement. In its Winter 2010 Intelligence Report the Southern Poverty Law Center noted that since the 1980s there has been organized efforts by "hard-line elements of the religious right searching for ways to demonize gay people — or, at a minimum, to find arguments that will prevent their normalization in society."[23] These groups utilize anti-gay myths to "form the basis of its claim that homosexuality is a social evil that must be suppressed — an opinion rejected by virtually all relevant medical and scientific authorities."[23] The SPLC notes these anti-gay myths "almost certainly contribute to hate crime violence directed at the LGBT community, which is more targeted for such attacks than any other minority group in America."[23]
(18 January 2014) A gay Russian protestor, Pavel Lebedev, was tackled and detained for unfurling a rainbow flag during the Olympic torch relay as it passed through his hometown of Voronezh, 506 miles north of Sochi.[24] (See 23 January.)
(23 January 2014) Olympics sponsor McDonald's launched a social media campaign #CheerstoSochi to offer well wishes to Olympians. The hashtag was quickly hijacked by activists who instead used it to post protest images and messages of support for Pavel Lebedev, who was tackled and detained in his hometown on 18 January for holding a rainbow flag while the Olympic torch went by.[25]
(28 January 2014) Olympic sponsor Coca-Cola was forced to shut down an interactive feature that allowed users to put messages on Coke cans supporting the Olympic athletes. LGBT activists hijacked the campaign, "urging people around the globe to use the cans to highlight messages about Russian anti-gay brutality."[26]
(29 January 2014) Head of the Sochi Organizing Committee, Dmitry Chernyshenko, expressed clarifications of athletes making political statements during their news conferences at the Games. Contradicting IOC president Thomas Bach, who said athletes could make political statements during their media interviews, Chernyshenko said a free speech zone would be available for speaking about politics ten miles away from Olympic venues.[27][28][note 1]
(29 January 2014) In an interview with the BBC, British Culture Secretary Maria Miller said the UK government would provide extra funding for gay rights campaigners in Russia, in conjunction with the Olympic Games opportunity.[28]
(29 January 2014) LGBT media-watchdog group GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) launched a resource guide for journalists covering the 2014 Olympics, as well as Global Voices program, "sharing culture-changing stories of LGBT people and families in national and international media."[29]
(30 January 2014) The Principle 6 campaign, "named after the clause in the Olympic charter that supposedly guarantees non-discrimination", was launched with over 50 current and former Olympians protesting Russia's anti-LGBT policies. The campaign criticized Games officials and sponsors for lack of action, and called on Russian authorities to reconsider the laws that led to "a wave of homophobic attacks."[30]
(31 January 2014) A new campaign called "Anything But Coke" was launched protesting Coca-Cola's "refusal to denounce these human rights abuses" regarding Russia's crackdown. Actions were slated for college and high school campuses in the U.S.[31]
(31 January 2014) In Stockholm, Sweden, 2000 people gathered to produce a video as part of a "Live and Let Love" campaign, showing support for Russian LGBT people.[32]
(31 January 2014) An open letter to the ten world sponsors of the Olympics "urging them to denounce the law and run ads promoting equality for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people" was signed by 40 human rights and gay rights groups including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the Human Rights Campaign.[33]
(1 February 2014) Activists from various non-governmental groups protested in Paris by forming the five Olympic ring symbol with people and large images of violence against lesbian and gay people.[34]
(2 February 2014) Finnish Olympic swimmer Ari-Pekka Liukkonen came out publicly as gay to "raise awareness about Russia's anti-gay laws ahead of the Sochi Games."[35] Liukkonen was the first Finnish athlete to come out of the closet while still active in his sport. He competed at the 2012 London Olympics and has won bronze at the European Championships.[36]
(4 February 2014) A Russian ninth-grade girl from the Bryansk region was punished for violating the gay propaganda law after she openly announced her "nontraditional sexual orientation."[37] It was the first case against a Russian minor under the controversial law, and the incident will appear on her criminal record.[37]
(4 February 2014) The Canadian Institute of Diversity and Inclusion released a humorous, two-man luge-themed public service announcement in support of LGBT rights, with the tagline "The Games have always been a little gay. Let's fight to keep them that way." Michael Bach, head of the Institute, stated that it was intended to make "a really strong message about the need for equality and the treatment of LGBT people and their allies, particularly at the Olympics"[38]
(4 February 2014) AT&T, a sponsor of the United States Olympic Committee, became the first major U.S. corporation to publicly condemn Russia's LGBT propaganda law and show a pro-LGBT stance.[39] The Human Rights Campaign had called on major corporations including the worldwide Olympic sponsors to condemn the laws.[39]
(4 February 2014) Norway's openly gay health minister Bent Høie announced he would attend the 2014 Winter Paralympics with his husband.[40] It is common for cabinet officials to travel with their spouses.[40]
(4 February 2014) Svetlana Zhurova, a former Olympic champion and mayor of the Olympic Village for the Mountain cluster, called for no protests during the Games, stating that "We are all participants of the Games and we are going to applaud the straight people and the homosexuals just like the previous Olympic Games."[41] She had recently appeared on Russian television defending the ban on gay propaganda.[42]
(4 February 2014) LGBT ally, National Football League's Chris Kluwe, encouraged Sochi Olympians to speak up about "abuse against LGBTQ people in Russia", in London's The Guardian.[43]
(6 February 2014) The Russia Freedom Fund, Athlete Ally, and CoPilot partnered with the Fair Games Project, producing a PSA protesting Russia treatment of LGBT people, and highlighting similar abuses in other countries.[44]
(6 February 2014) Two USOC sponsors, the Chobani yogurt company and DeVry University, publicly stated opposition to the LGBT propaganda law and support for efforts for LGBT equality.[45] Chobani's CEO stated, "We oppose Russia's anti-LGBT law", in an interview on CNBC.[46]
2014 (during the Games)edit
(4 February 2014) A number of major Canadian cities, including Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Quebec City, St. John's, and Toronto, began to fly rainbow flags on government buildings in recognition of the rights of LGBT people in Russia.[47][48] By the end of the games, the campaign has been joined by at least 33 cities and the provincial legislatures of eight of Canada's ten provinces.
(6 February 2014) Google changed its front page logo to a rainbow-coloured Google Doodle with pictograms of sports linking to a search for "Olympic Charter", and placed a quote from the charter on the page as well.[49] The doodle was characterized in media as a symbolic protest, although Google specifically refused to acknowledge it.[50][51]
(7 February 2014) Just ahead of the opening ceremony, four LGBT activists, including Anastasia Smirnova, Aleksandra Semenova and a pregnant woman, were arrested in St. Petersburg for holding up a banner reading "Discrimination is incompatible with the Olympic movement. Principle 6. Olympic charter."[52]
(7 February 2014) U.S. President Barack Obama confirmed in an interview with NBC Sports' Bob Costas that the inclusion of gay athletes in the U.S. Olympic delegation was to send a pointed message in response to the Russian laws, saying that "there is no doubt we wanted to make it very clear that we do not abide by discrimination in anything, including discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. One of the wonderful things about the Olympics is that you are judged by your merit, how good you are regardless of where you come from, what you look like, who you love and that I think is consistent with the spirit of the Olympics."[53]
(7 February 2014) The Huffington Post noted that the opening ceremony, ironically given Russia's LGBT stance and the associated protest movement, featured tributes to "some of history's most widely acclaimed and definitely gay Russians", including composer Peter Tchaikovsky (1840–1893); Ukrainian-born Russian humorist, dramatist, and novelist Nikolai Gogol (1809–1852); filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein (1898–1948); ballet dancer Vaslav Nijinsky (1889–1950); and patron of arts and founder of Ballets Russes, Sergei Diaghilev. The organizers claimed that these individuals were selected due to their "merits" and "contributions to Russian culture", denying any relation to LGBT rights.[54][55] On the same topic, critics also noted that the Russian pop duo t.A.T.u were invited to perform during the opening ceremony. Although they are not actually lesbian, the all-female duo were well known for incorporating themes of lesbianism in their music and on-stage personas (live appearances often featured the singers kissing each other), their name is a corruption of a shortened Russian phrase meaning "this girl loves that girl", and the duo made a statement in support of LGBT rights in the wake of Yuri Luzhkov's objection to the 2007 Moscow Prideparade.[56] Organizers noted that t.A.T.u were chosen because they were well known to an international audience, denying any relation to the LGBT movement.[57]
(7 February 2014) During the opening ceremony IOC president Thomas Bach made a speech which made strong statements against discrimination:[58]
Yes, Yes, it is possible – even as competitors – to live together under one roof in harmony, with tolerance and without any form of discrimination for whatever reason.[59]
(7 February 2014) Cheryl Maas, one of six reportedly outed competitors in the Games, made the first display of LGBT "propaganda" in solidarity with Russian LGBT persons. Following her attempt to qualify in the slopestyle event at Sochi, Cheryl Maas, from the Netherlands, who is openly married to another woman, raised her glove bearing a rainbow (and a unicorn) to the cameras. The snowboarder has reportedly previously criticized the decision to hold the Games in Sochi, stating, "With the choice of Russia, the IOC is taking a step back in time."[60]
(10 February 2014) On ESPN's Outside the Lines, 24-year-old Callan Chythlook-Sifsof, an Olympic snowboarder,[61] said she wanted to come out at Sochi to make a statement about LGBT rights in light of Russia's law, but she missed the cut for Team USA.[61]
(13 February 2014) A group of friends from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, released "Putin Gay Dress Up",[62] an online game to protest against Putin's statements about gay rights. Players had to dress up the president as a stereotyped gay, including woman's clothes and a Pussy Riot T-shirt.[63]
^Three protest parks were designated in Beijing during the 2008 Summer Olympics, at the suggestion of the IOC. All 77 applications to protest there had been withdrawn or denied, and no protests took place. Four persons who applied to protest were arrested or sentenced to reeducation.(Elderly Chinese Women Sentenced to Labor Re-education, The Washington Post, August 20, 2008; Peter Foster, , Telegraph Blogs, August 20, 2008.)
Referencesedit
^"Judge bans Sochi 2014 gay Pride House claiming it would offend "public morality"". Inside the Games. 18 March 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
^Herszenhorn, David M. (2013-08-11). "Gays in Russia Find No Haven, Despite Support From the West". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
^Johnson, Ted (24 July 2013). "Russia's Anti-Gay Laws Present Challenge for NBC's Olympics Coverage". Variety. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
^Fierstein, Harvey (21 July 2013). "Russia's Anti-Gay Crackdown". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
^Luhn, Alec (1 September 2013). "Russian anti-gay law prompts rise in homophobic violence". The Guardian.
^Weaver, Courtney (16 August 2013). "Russia gay propaganda law fuels homophobic attacks". Financial Times.
^ abcCrary, David. . Bigstory.ap.org. Archived from the original on 2014-02-10. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^"Dozens Held at LGBT Rally in Russia's St.Petersburg". En.ria.ru. 29 June 2013. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^. Bigstory.ap.org. Archived from the original on 2014-02-20. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^Lavers, Michael K. (2013-07-22). "4 Dutch LGBT advocates arrested in Russia". Washingtonblade.com. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^"Задержанных под Мурманском голландцев отпустили без суда". Lenta.ru. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^ abAlec Luhn in Moscow (14 August 2013). "US athlete Nick Symmonds speaks out against Russia's LGBT propaganda law in Moscow: Runner dedicates silver medal to gay and lesbian friends at home during world athletics championships". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^"Australian Snowboarder Belle Brockhoff Comes Out As Gay To Make Statement About Sochi". Towleroad.com. 26 August 2013. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^. Hrc.org. 2014-02-08. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^Kelly Cryderman (2013-09-03). "Olympic speed skater Anastasia Bucsis 'so proud to be gay'". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^"French President Joins Boycott of Sochi Olympics". Towleroad.com. 15 December 2013. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^"Obama selection of Billie Jean King for Sochi 'genius'". USA Today. 2013-12-17. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^"U.S. delegation to Russian Olympics includes gay athletes". CNN. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^"Figure Skater Brian Boitano Comes Out As Gay Ahead Of Sochi Olympics". Huffingtonpost.com. 2013-12-19. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^Kate Auletta (2014-01-10). "Sochi Travel Alert: U.S. State Department Issues Warning For Americans During Olympics". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^Winston, Kimberly (16 January 2014). "Racy Orthodox Calendar pushes gay rights ahead of Russian Olympics". Washington Post. Religion News Service.
^Shaun Walker in Moscow (17 January 2014). "Vladimir Putin: gay people at Winter Olympics must 'leave children alone': Russian president vows no discrimination but says gay people must observe law banning 'homosexual propaganda'". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^ abcEvelyn Schlatter; Robert Steinback (Winter 2010). "10 Anti-Gay Myths Debunked". Intelligence Report. No. 140. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
^"Gay protester detained in Russia". ESPN. 2014-01-18. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^Scott Wooledge (2014-01-23). "McDonald's #CheersToSochi Campaign Meets With LGBT Backlash". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^Michelangelo Signorile (2014-01-28). "Olympic Sponsors Were Warned About Sochi; Now McDonald's and Coca-Cola Are Having a PR Nightmare". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^Russian Olympics Chief Contradicts IOC Head On Political Statements, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
^ abBond, David (2014-01-29). "Sochi 2014: UK cash for Russian gay rights campaigners". BBC. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^Owen Gibson; Shaun Walker (30 January 2014). "Olympians urge Russia to reconsider 'gay propaganda' laws: Current and former Olympians criticise Games officials and sponsors for lack of action over anti-gay measures". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^"'Anything But Coke' College Campaign Pushes For Lgbt Rights In Russia: Video". Towleroad.com. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^"Thousands Gather In Stockholm To Sing In Support Of The Lgbt People In Russia: Video". Towleroad.com. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^"Sochi Olympics Surrounded By Turmoil". Stlouis.cbslocal.com. 2014-01-31. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^. Canada.com. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2014-02-04. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^"Suomalainen olympiauimari kaapista ulos – "Vihdoin voin olla oma itseni"" (in Finnish). Yle. 2014-02-02. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
^"Finnish Olympian Swimmer Ari-Pekka Liukkonen Comes Out As Gay To Raise Awareness About Sochi". Towleroad.com. 2 February 2014. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^ ab"Russian Teen Punished For 'Gay Propaganda'". Rferl.org. 2014-02-03. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^Leasca, Stacey (2014-02-06). "Canadian PSA: 'The Olympics have always been a little gay'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
^ abJames Nichols (2014-02-04). "AT&T Becomes First Major U.S. Corporation To Condemn Russia's Anti-Gay Laws". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^ ab"Gay Norwegian minister to take husband to Sochi Paralympics". Ca.reuters.com. 2014-02-04. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^Thomson Reuters Foundation (2014-02-04). . Trust.org. Archived from the original on 2014-02-23. Retrieved 2014-02-12. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
^Lucien Mae (2014-01-15). . Dot429.com. Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^"Athletes in Sochi must speak up about Russia's intolerance. I did it in the NFL: Olympians shouldn't be silent about abuse against LGBTQ people in Russia. Doing what's right is better than winning". Theguardian.com. 4 February 2014. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^"Ugly 'Sport' Of Global Anti-Gay Oppression Highlighted In Powerful New Psa: Video Premiere". Towleroad.com. 6 February 2014. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^"Chobani Shows Its Pride: Photo". Towleroad.com. 2014-02-09. Retrieved 2014-02-17.
^"Newfoundland And Labrador Communities To Raise Gay Pride Flags During Olympics". Towleroad.com. 6 February 2014. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^"Rainbow flag raised at Calgary's City Hall in support of gay rights". CBC News. 2014-02-07. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
^Pat Murphy (6 February 2014). "Google doodle points to Olympic Charter in defending all athletes". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^Mark Molloy (7 February 2014). "Sochi Winter Olympics 2014: Rainbow Google Doodle supports gay rights in Russia | Metro News". Metro.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-02-08.
^"Rainbow Google doodle links to Olympic charter as Sochi kicks off: Search engine's logo presented in the colours of the rainbow flag to coincide with the opening of the Winter Olympics in Sochi". Theguardian.com. 7 February 2014. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^Curtis M. Wong (2014-02-07). "Russian LGBT Activists Arrested Under 'Gay Propaganda' Law In St. Petersburg". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^Ng, Philiana. "Olympics: Obama, Bob Costas Chat About 'Tough Guy' Putin During Interview (Video)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
^"Nobody Tell Russia, But Look How Super Gay Their Olympics Opening Ceremony Was". Huffington Post. 2014-02-07. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
^"22 Russians Who We Won't Let Vladimir Putin Forget Were LGBT". The Advocate. 6 August 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
^"Russian pop duo tATu support Moscow Pride". Pink News. 17 May 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
^"Sochi: Fake Lesbian Russian Pop Duo t.A.T.u. to Perform at Olympics' Opening Ceremony". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
^"NBC Edited Out IOC Anti-Discrimination Remarks From Opening Ceremony Broadcast". Towleroad.com. 8 February 2014. Retrieved 2014-02-17.
^"NBC Edits Out IOC Anti-Discrimination Statement From Opening Ceremony". Deadspin.com. 2014-02-07. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^James Nichols (2014-02-07). "Cheryl Maas, Lesbian Snowboarder In Russia, Raises Rainbow Glove In Sochi". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
^""Putin Gay Dress Up" Makes a Political Statement". 21 January 2020.
April 12, 2024
lgbt, rights, protests, surrounding, 2014, winter, olympics, during, lead, 2014, winter, olympics, protests, campaigns, arose, surrounding, rights, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, lgbt, people, russia, concerns, lgbt, athletes, supporters, during, games, began. During the lead up to the 2014 Winter Olympics protests and campaigns arose surrounding the rights of lesbian gay bisexual and transgender LGBT people in Russia Concerns for LGBT athletes and supporters during the Games began as early as March 2012 when a Russian judge blocked the establishment of a Pride House in Sochi ruling that propaganda of non traditional sexual relationships would undermine the security of Russian society and that it conflicted with public morality and the country s policies in the area of family motherhood and childhood protection 1 The majority of protests however centred on the passing of a law in June 2013 which banned the distribution of propaganda of non traditional sexual relationships among minors The propaganda law had been characterized by the Western media and other critics as a ban on gay propaganda arguing that it was broad enough to ban any public display of LGBT symbols and suppress LGBT culture The law itself was also considered to have caused an increase in homophobic violence and an increase in the arrest of pro LGBT protesters 2 3 4 5 6 The implications of the law on the then upcoming Winter Olympics were a major concern among athletes and the Western media as the Olympic Charter contains language explicitly denouncing all forms of discrimination Early international pressure was leveraged to compel the International Olympic Committee IOC to move the Olympics to another country as well as pressure on Olympic sponsors to take a stand for LGBT equality In tandem calls to boycott and protest the Olympics before during and after the games also went out from various organizations and groups and a number of Olympic athletes came out as a symbolic protest of the law Prior to the Games similar pressure was placed on major Olympic sponsors and several non sponsors also made public statements in support of LGBT rights Several national politicians declined to attend the Games which some Western media outlets attributed as connected to the legislation while others stated that few leaders normally attend the Winter Games as it is not a must attend event Contents 1 Timeline of protests and related events 1 1 2013 1 2 2014 pre Games 1 3 2014 during the Games 2 See also 3 Footnotes 4 ReferencesTimeline of protests and related events edit2013 edit nbsp Activists painted a pedestrian crossing outside the Russian Embassy in Helsinki in rainbow colours in protest June 2013 Russia passed a law with near unanimous support by Russian lawmakers and signed by President Vladimir Putin banning the propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations and imposes fines for providing information about the gay community to minors 7 29 June 2013 Dozens of gay activists were beaten and arrested at a gay rights rally in St Petersburg citing the new law 8 9 July 2013 A multifaceted campaign is launched to raise awareness about the gay rights situation in Russia and stem future Olympic bids going to countries who violate human rights 7 July 23 2013 The first arrests of foreign citizens under the ban against gay propaganda took place in Murmansk when four Dutch citizens attending a human rights seminar were also filming a documentary on gay life in Russia 10 11 14 August 2013 U S runner Nick Symmonds became the first international athlete to denounce Russia s law against gay propaganda on the country s soil 12 He had just won the silver medal in the 800 m race in Moscow and dedicated the medal to his gay and lesbian friends and called for LGBT equality 12 26 August 2013 Australian snowboarder Belle Brockhoff came out as gay to bring attention to Russia s LGBT propaganda law and for lesbian and gay athletes 13 29 August 2013 Human Rights Campaign sent letters to the ten Worldwide sponsors of the International Olympic Committee Dow Chemical Coca Cola General Electric McDonald s Procter amp Gamble Panasonic Samsung Omega Visa Inc and Atos to take steps to stem violence against LGBT people including a clear and unequivocal public position in opposition to anti LGBT laws denouncing violence targeted against LGBT people and demanding accountability asking the IOC to obtain written commitments for the safety of LGBT athletes and attendees and rejecting future Olympic bids from countries that outlaw support for LGBT equality 14 5 September 2013 Canadian Olympic speed skater Anastasia Bucsis publicly came out as gay in response to Russia s anti gay laws 15 25 September 2013 Two gay rights activists were detained by police officers outside the Sochi Organizing Committee office in downtown Moscow They had been holding a poster Homophobia is Russia s Disgrace during a protest 7 15 December 2013 French President Francois Hollande first kissed a male citizen openly against Russian laws then joined German President Joachim Gauck and EU Commissioner Viviane Reding in boycotting the Sochi Olympics in protest of the law 16 20 December 2013 The U S official delegation in a surprise announcement would not include any members of President Barack Obama s family or an active Cabinet secretary the first time in at least twenty years 17 The delegation instead would be composed of openly gay athletes a clear jab at Russia s recent anti gay laws 18 29 December 2013 Olympic gold medalist Brian Boitano came out as gay publicly he had been named as part of the American Olympic delegation by President Barack Obama The actions were widely seen as a response to the anti gay laws enacted 19 2014 pre Games edit 10 January 2014 The U S State Department issued warnings for Americans traveling to the Olympics Specifically for LGBT people it noted that Russia has in place a law that bans the propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations to minors It said authorities have been vague about defining propaganda and that the law applies to foreigners A conviction on the charge could result in a fine a jail term and deportation 20 16 January 2014 or before The annual Orthodox Calendar is released featuring drawings of naked men with some proceeds used to combat anti LGBT laws in Russia The calendar was created to criticize homophobic views in Eastern Orthodox communities and the former Soviet Union 21 17 January 2014 Russian president Vladimir Putin in a meeting with Olympic volunteers explained that their rainbow colored uniforms were not considered violating the Kremlin s anti LGBT initiatives because We do not have a ban on non traditional sexual relationships We have a ban on the propaganda of homosexuality and paedophilia 22 The rainbow flag and colors are an international symbol for LGBTQ communities Conflating homosexuality with pedophilia has been a common practice in the opposition to the gay rights movement In its Winter 2010 Intelligence Report the Southern Poverty Law Center noted that since the 1980s there has been organized efforts by hard line elements of the religious right searching for ways to demonize gay people or at a minimum to find arguments that will prevent their normalization in society 23 These groups utilize anti gay myths to form the basis of its claim that homosexuality is a social evil that must be suppressed an opinion rejected by virtually all relevant medical and scientific authorities 23 The SPLC notes these anti gay myths almost certainly contribute to hate crime violence directed at the LGBT community which is more targeted for such attacks than any other minority group in America 23 18 January 2014 A gay Russian protestor Pavel Lebedev was tackled and detained for unfurling a rainbow flag during the Olympic torch relay as it passed through his hometown of Voronezh 506 miles north of Sochi 24 See 23 January 23 January 2014 Olympics sponsor McDonald s launched a social media campaign CheerstoSochi to offer well wishes to Olympians The hashtag was quickly hijacked by activists who instead used it to post protest images and messages of support for Pavel Lebedev who was tackled and detained in his hometown on 18 January for holding a rainbow flag while the Olympic torch went by 25 28 January 2014 Olympic sponsor Coca Cola was forced to shut down an interactive feature that allowed users to put messages on Coke cans supporting the Olympic athletes LGBT activists hijacked the campaign urging people around the globe to use the cans to highlight messages about Russian anti gay brutality 26 29 January 2014 Head of the Sochi Organizing Committee Dmitry Chernyshenko expressed clarifications of athletes making political statements during their news conferences at the Games Contradicting IOC president Thomas Bach who said athletes could make political statements during their media interviews Chernyshenko said a free speech zone would be available for speaking about politics ten miles away from Olympic venues 27 28 note 1 29 January 2014 In an interview with the BBC British Culture Secretary Maria Miller said the UK government would provide extra funding for gay rights campaigners in Russia in conjunction with the Olympic Games opportunity 28 29 January 2014 LGBT media watchdog group GLAAD Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation launched a resource guide for journalists covering the 2014 Olympics as well as Global Voices program sharing culture changing stories of LGBT people and families in national and international media 29 30 January 2014 The Principle 6 campaign named after the clause in the Olympic charter that supposedly guarantees non discrimination was launched with over 50 current and former Olympians protesting Russia s anti LGBT policies The campaign criticized Games officials and sponsors for lack of action and called on Russian authorities to reconsider the laws that led to a wave of homophobic attacks 30 31 January 2014 A new campaign called Anything But Coke was launched protesting Coca Cola s refusal to denounce these human rights abuses regarding Russia s crackdown Actions were slated for college and high school campuses in the U S 31 31 January 2014 In Stockholm Sweden 2000 people gathered to produce a video as part of a Live and Let Love campaign showing support for Russian LGBT people 32 31 January 2014 An open letter to the ten world sponsors of the Olympics urging them to denounce the law and run ads promoting equality for lesbians gays bisexuals and transgender people was signed by 40 human rights and gay rights groups including Amnesty International Human Rights Watch and the Human Rights Campaign 33 1 February 2014 Activists from various non governmental groups protested in Paris by forming the five Olympic ring symbol with people and large images of violence against lesbian and gay people 34 2 February 2014 Finnish Olympic swimmer Ari Pekka Liukkonen came out publicly as gay to raise awareness about Russia s anti gay laws ahead of the Sochi Games 35 Liukkonen was the first Finnish athlete to come out of the closet while still active in his sport He competed at the 2012 London Olympics and has won bronze at the European Championships 36 4 February 2014 A Russian ninth grade girl from the Bryansk region was punished for violating the gay propaganda law after she openly announced her nontraditional sexual orientation 37 It was the first case against a Russian minor under the controversial law and the incident will appear on her criminal record 37 4 February 2014 The Canadian Institute of Diversity and Inclusion released a humorous two man luge themed public service announcement in support of LGBT rights with the tagline The Games have always been a little gay Let s fight to keep them that way Michael Bach head of the Institute stated that it was intended to make a really strong message about the need for equality and the treatment of LGBT people and their allies particularly at the Olympics 38 4 February 2014 AT amp T a sponsor of the United States Olympic Committee became the first major U S corporation to publicly condemn Russia s LGBT propaganda law and show a pro LGBT stance 39 The Human Rights Campaign had called on major corporations including the worldwide Olympic sponsors to condemn the laws 39 4 February 2014 Norway s openly gay health minister Bent Hoie announced he would attend the 2014 Winter Paralympics with his husband 40 It is common for cabinet officials to travel with their spouses 40 4 February 2014 Svetlana Zhurova a former Olympic champion and mayor of the Olympic Village for the Mountain cluster called for no protests during the Games stating that We are all participants of the Games and we are going to applaud the straight people and the homosexuals just like the previous Olympic Games 41 She had recently appeared on Russian television defending the ban on gay propaganda 42 4 February 2014 LGBT ally National Football League s Chris Kluwe encouraged Sochi Olympians to speak up about abuse against LGBTQ people in Russia in London s The Guardian 43 6 February 2014 The Russia Freedom Fund Athlete Ally and CoPilot partnered with the Fair Games Project producing a PSA protesting Russia treatment of LGBT people and highlighting similar abuses in other countries 44 6 February 2014 Two USOC sponsors the Chobani yogurt company and DeVry University publicly stated opposition to the LGBT propaganda law and support for efforts for LGBT equality 45 Chobani s CEO stated We oppose Russia s anti LGBT law in an interview on CNBC 46 2014 during the Games edit 4 February 2014 A number of major Canadian cities including Calgary Edmonton Halifax Quebec City St John s and Toronto began to fly rainbow flags on government buildings in recognition of the rights of LGBT people in Russia 47 48 By the end of the games the campaign has been joined by at least 33 cities and the provincial legislatures of eight of Canada s ten provinces 6 February 2014 Google changed its front page logo to a rainbow coloured Google Doodle with pictograms of sports linking to a search for Olympic Charter and placed a quote from the charter on the page as well 49 The doodle was characterized in media as a symbolic protest although Google specifically refused to acknowledge it 50 51 7 February 2014 Just ahead of the opening ceremony four LGBT activists including Anastasia Smirnova Aleksandra Semenova and a pregnant woman were arrested in St Petersburg for holding up a banner reading Discrimination is incompatible with the Olympic movement Principle 6 Olympic charter 52 7 February 2014 U S President Barack Obama confirmed in an interview with NBC Sports Bob Costas that the inclusion of gay athletes in the U S Olympic delegation was to send a pointed message in response to the Russian laws saying that there is no doubt we wanted to make it very clear that we do not abide by discrimination in anything including discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation One of the wonderful things about the Olympics is that you are judged by your merit how good you are regardless of where you come from what you look like who you love and that I think is consistent with the spirit of the Olympics 53 7 February 2014 The Huffington Post noted that the opening ceremony ironically given Russia s LGBT stance and the associated protest movement featured tributes to some of history s most widely acclaimed and definitely gay Russians including composer Peter Tchaikovsky 1840 1893 Ukrainian born Russian humorist dramatist and novelist Nikolai Gogol 1809 1852 filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein 1898 1948 ballet dancer Vaslav Nijinsky 1889 1950 and patron of arts and founder of Ballets Russes Sergei Diaghilev The organizers claimed that these individuals were selected due to their merits and contributions to Russian culture denying any relation to LGBT rights 54 55 On the same topic critics also noted that the Russian pop duo t A T u were invited to perform during the opening ceremony Although they are not actually lesbian the all female duo were well known for incorporating themes of lesbianism in their music and on stage personas live appearances often featured the singers kissing each other their name is a corruption of a shortened Russian phrase meaning this girl loves that girl and the duo made a statement in support of LGBT rights in the wake of Yuri Luzhkov s objection to the 2007 Moscow Pride parade 56 Organizers noted that t A T u were chosen because they were well known to an international audience denying any relation to the LGBT movement 57 7 February 2014 During the opening ceremony IOC president Thomas Bach made a speech which made strong statements against discrimination 58 Yes Yes it is possible even as competitors to live together under one roof in harmony with tolerance and without any form of discrimination for whatever reason 59 7 February 2014 Cheryl Maas one of six reportedly outed competitors in the Games made the first display of LGBT propaganda in solidarity with Russian LGBT persons Following her attempt to qualify in the slopestyle event at Sochi Cheryl Maas from the Netherlands who is openly married to another woman raised her glove bearing a rainbow and a unicorn to the cameras The snowboarder has reportedly previously criticized the decision to hold the Games in Sochi stating With the choice of Russia the IOC is taking a step back in time 60 10 February 2014 On ESPN s Outside the Lines 24 year old Callan Chythlook Sifsof an Olympic snowboarder 61 said she wanted to come out at Sochi to make a statement about LGBT rights in light of Russia s law but she missed the cut for Team USA 61 13 February 2014 A group of friends from Amsterdam the Netherlands released Putin Gay Dress Up 62 an online game to protest against Putin s statements about gay rights Players had to dress up the president as a stereotyped gay including woman s clothes and a Pussy Riot T shirt 63 See also editConcerns and controversies at the 2014 Winter Olympics James Kirchick List of LGBT sportspeople Hunted The War Against Gays in Russia Human rights in Russia LGBT rights in Russia LGBT rights in Asia LGBT rights in Europe LGBT history in Russia Mayer Brown Uprising of LoveFootnotes edit Three protest parks were designated in Beijing during the 2008 Summer Olympics at the suggestion of the IOC All 77 applications to protest there had been withdrawn or denied and no protests took place Four persons who applied to protest were arrested or sentenced to reeducation Elderly Chinese Women Sentenced to Labor Re education The Washington Post August 20 2008 Peter Foster The IOC plays appeaser in Beijing Telegraph Blogs August 20 2008 References edit Judge bans Sochi 2014 gay Pride House claiming it would offend public morality Inside the Games 18 March 2012 Retrieved 12 February 2014 Herszenhorn David M 2013 08 11 Gays in Russia Find No Haven Despite Support From the West The New York Times Retrieved 10 February 2014 Johnson Ted 24 July 2013 Russia s Anti Gay Laws Present Challenge for NBC s Olympics Coverage Variety Retrieved 25 July 2013 Fierstein Harvey 21 July 2013 Russia s Anti Gay Crackdown The New York Times Retrieved 25 July 2013 Luhn Alec 1 September 2013 Russian anti gay law prompts rise in homophobic violence The Guardian Weaver Courtney 16 August 2013 Russia gay propaganda law fuels homophobic attacks Financial Times a b c Crary David Foes of Russia s Anti Gay Law Ponder New Tactics Bigstory ap org Archived from the original on 2014 02 10 Retrieved 2014 02 12 Dozens Held at LGBT Rally in Russia s St Petersburg En ria ru 29 June 2013 Retrieved 2014 02 12 Dozens Arrested At Gay Pride Rally In Russia Bigstory ap org Archived from the original on 2014 02 20 Retrieved 2014 02 12 Lavers Michael K 2013 07 22 4 Dutch LGBT advocates arrested in Russia Washingtonblade com Retrieved 2014 02 12 Zaderzhannyh pod Murmanskom gollandcev otpustili bez suda Lenta ru Retrieved 2014 02 12 a b Alec Luhn in Moscow 14 August 2013 US athlete Nick Symmonds speaks out against Russia s LGBT propaganda law in Moscow Runner dedicates silver medal to gay and lesbian friends at home during world athletics championships Theguardian com Retrieved 2014 02 12 Australian Snowboarder Belle Brockhoff Comes Out As Gay To Make Statement About Sochi Towleroad com 26 August 2013 Retrieved 2014 02 12 HRC Calls on Olympic Sponsors to Condemn Anti LGBT Law in Russia Advocate for Equality Worldwide Hrc org 2014 02 08 Archived from the original on 2015 09 24 Retrieved 2014 02 12 Kelly Cryderman 2013 09 03 Olympic speed skater Anastasia Bucsis so proud to be gay The Globe and Mail Toronto Retrieved 2014 02 12 French President Joins Boycott of Sochi Olympics Towleroad com 15 December 2013 Retrieved 2014 02 12 Obama selection of Billie Jean King for Sochi genius USA Today 2013 12 17 Retrieved 2014 02 12 U S delegation to Russian Olympics includes gay athletes CNN Retrieved 2014 02 12 Figure Skater Brian Boitano Comes Out As Gay Ahead Of Sochi Olympics Huffingtonpost com 2013 12 19 Retrieved 2014 02 12 Kate Auletta 2014 01 10 Sochi Travel Alert U S State Department Issues Warning For Americans During Olympics Huffingtonpost com Retrieved 2014 02 12 Winston Kimberly 16 January 2014 Racy Orthodox Calendar pushes gay rights ahead of Russian Olympics Washington Post Religion News Service Shaun Walker in Moscow 17 January 2014 Vladimir Putin gay people at Winter Olympics must leave children alone Russian president vows no discrimination but says gay people must observe law banning homosexual propaganda Theguardian com Retrieved 2014 02 12 a b c Evelyn Schlatter Robert Steinback Winter 2010 10 Anti Gay Myths Debunked Intelligence Report No 140 Retrieved September 16 2012 Gay protester detained in Russia ESPN 2014 01 18 Retrieved 2014 02 12 Scott Wooledge 2014 01 23 McDonald s CheersToSochi Campaign Meets With LGBT Backlash Huffington Post Retrieved 2014 02 12 Michelangelo Signorile 2014 01 28 Olympic Sponsors Were Warned About Sochi Now McDonald s and Coca Cola Are Having a PR Nightmare Huffingtonpost com Retrieved 2014 02 12 Russian Olympics Chief Contradicts IOC Head On Political Statements Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty a b Bond David 2014 01 29 Sochi 2014 UK cash for Russian gay rights campaigners BBC Retrieved 2014 02 12 GLAAD unveils Olympic Playbook launches Global Voices program Glaad org 2014 01 29 Retrieved 2014 02 12 Owen Gibson Shaun Walker 30 January 2014 Olympians urge Russia to reconsider gay propaganda laws Current and former Olympians criticise Games officials and sponsors for lack of action over anti gay measures Theguardian com Retrieved 2014 02 12 Anything But Coke College Campaign Pushes For Lgbt Rights In Russia Video Towleroad com 31 January 2014 Retrieved 2014 02 12 Thousands Gather In Stockholm To Sing In Support Of The Lgbt People In Russia Video Towleroad com 31 January 2014 Retrieved 2014 02 12 Sochi Olympics Surrounded By Turmoil Stlouis cbslocal com 2014 01 31 Retrieved 2014 02 12 LGBT protests focus on Olympic sponsors Coke and McDonald s Canada com Associated Press Archived from the original on 2014 02 04 Retrieved 2014 02 12 Suomalainen olympiauimari kaapista ulos Vihdoin voin olla oma itseni in Finnish Yle 2014 02 02 Retrieved 2 February 2014 Finnish Olympian Swimmer Ari Pekka Liukkonen Comes Out As Gay To Raise Awareness About Sochi Towleroad com 2 February 2014 Retrieved 2014 02 12 a b Russian Teen Punished For Gay Propaganda Rferl org 2014 02 03 Retrieved 2014 02 12 Leasca Stacey 2014 02 06 Canadian PSA The Olympics have always been a little gay Los Angeles Times Retrieved 23 March 2014 a b James Nichols 2014 02 04 AT amp T Becomes First Major U S Corporation To Condemn Russia s Anti Gay Laws Huffington Post Retrieved 2014 02 12 a b Gay Norwegian minister to take husband to Sochi Paralympics Ca reuters com 2014 02 04 Retrieved 2014 02 12 Thomson Reuters Foundation 2014 02 04 Olympics Don t protest for gay rights in Sochi Olympic village mayor Trust org Archived from the original on 2014 02 23 Retrieved 2014 02 12 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a author has generic name help Lucien Mae 2014 01 15 Russian Olympic Village mayor speaks up for controversial law Dot429 com Archived from the original on 2014 02 22 Retrieved 2014 02 12 Athletes in Sochi must speak up about Russia s intolerance I did it in the NFL Olympians shouldn t be silent about abuse against LGBTQ people in Russia Doing what s right is better than winning Theguardian com 4 February 2014 Retrieved 2014 02 12 Ugly Sport Of Global Anti Gay Oppression Highlighted In Powerful New Psa Video Premiere Towleroad com 6 February 2014 Retrieved 2014 02 12 Chobani Yogurt Ceo We Oppose Russia s Anti Lgbt Law Towleroad com 2014 02 06 Retrieved 2014 02 12 Chobani Shows Its Pride Photo Towleroad com 2014 02 09 Retrieved 2014 02 17 Newfoundland And Labrador Communities To Raise Gay Pride Flags During Olympics Towleroad com 6 February 2014 Retrieved 2014 02 12 Rainbow flag raised at Calgary s City Hall in support of gay rights CBC News 2014 02 07 Retrieved 23 March 2014 Pat Murphy 6 February 2014 Google doodle points to Olympic Charter in defending all athletes Christian Science Monitor Retrieved 2014 02 12 Mark Molloy 7 February 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics 2014 Rainbow Google Doodle supports gay rights in Russia Metro News Metro co uk Retrieved 2014 02 08 Rainbow Google doodle links to Olympic charter as Sochi kicks off Search engine s logo presented in the colours of the rainbow flag to coincide with the opening of the Winter Olympics in Sochi Theguardian com 7 February 2014 Retrieved 2014 02 12 Curtis M Wong 2014 02 07 Russian LGBT Activists Arrested Under Gay Propaganda Law In St Petersburg Huffington Post Retrieved 2014 02 12 Ng Philiana Olympics Obama Bob Costas Chat About Tough Guy Putin During Interview Video The Hollywood Reporter Retrieved 10 February 2014 Nobody Tell Russia But Look How Super Gay Their Olympics Opening Ceremony Was Huffington Post 2014 02 07 Retrieved 25 February 2014 22 Russians Who We Won t Let Vladimir Putin Forget Were LGBT The Advocate 6 August 2013 Retrieved 25 February 2014 Russian pop duo tATu support Moscow Pride Pink News 17 May 2007 Retrieved 25 February 2014 Sochi Fake Lesbian Russian Pop Duo t A T u to Perform at Olympics Opening Ceremony The Hollywood Reporter Retrieved 13 February 2014 NBC Edited Out IOC Anti Discrimination Remarks From Opening Ceremony Broadcast Towleroad com 8 February 2014 Retrieved 2014 02 17 NBC Edits Out IOC Anti Discrimination Statement From Opening Ceremony Deadspin com 2014 02 07 Retrieved 2014 02 12 James Nichols 2014 02 07 Cheryl Maas Lesbian Snowboarder In Russia Raises Rainbow Glove In Sochi Huffington Post Retrieved 2014 02 12 a b U S Snowboarder Callan Chythlook Sifsof I M Gay Towleroad com 10 February 2014 Retrieved 2014 02 17 http www putingaydressup com Archived 2014 10 18 at archive today Putin Gay Dress Up Makes a Political Statement 21 January 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title LGBT rights protests surrounding the 2014 Winter Olympics amp oldid 1191601280, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
