The Olympics of Intolerance

As millions around the world watched the Olympics opening ceremony from their television screens earlier this month, one group of ten LGBT activists beamed with pride as they sang the Russian national anthem in Moscow’s Red Square. Shortly afterwards, the group was arrested in the public square for mounting a protest in support of equality and gay rights.

One of the activists, Ulrika Westerlund from Sweden, said that the police verbally harassed and threatened them with sexual violence after the arrest.

“They took us upstairs and said that we have to ‘suck their cocks’ and that we have to be burned,” Westerlund told Buzzfeed reporters in text messages.

All of the protesters have since been released and the police refused to comment.

Russia’s current unrest began in protest of the country’s anti-gay policies and after a Neo-Nazi group publically claimed responsibility for kidnapping, beating up, and torturing gay men.

I can’t understand why there hasn’t been an international intervention. This is Neo Nazi. Like Hitlers reign! They are hunting people!!

— Kelsey Gallagher (@Kelseyann3) February 6, 2014

How can anyone support Sochi while Russia condones “exterminating” gays? This is horrible… http://t.co/TIxzcJyUwe

— Brian (@Lafond66) February 6, 2014

Russia’s issues are drawing attention to human rights issues worldwide. Roughly one out of ten Americans did not watch the Olympics because they disapproved of Russia’s political administration, according to a poll conducted by YouGov.

I adore the Opening Ceremonies but how can I watch when Russia is so hateful to the gays? I boycott all things Russian.

— Mickey Boardman (@AskMrMickey) January 28, 2014

The issue resonates with people from Moscow to New York.

“I think it’s deplorable that the other nations in attendance at the Olympics are not actively concerned about the welfare of LGBTQ people in Russia,” New School student Mimi Barcomi said.

The media have quickly responded in support of the LGBT community – The Guardian incorporated a rainbow “G” on their website logo, Google put a rainbow illustration of athletes on its homepage and AT&T released a blog post condemning violence against members of the LGBTQI community, saying “Russia’s law is harmful to LGBT individuals and families, and it’s harmful to a diverse society.”

Despite the fact that one of the International Olympic Committee’s mission statements is “to act against any form of discrimination affecting the Olympic Movement,” sponsors of the Olympics opted not to publicly respond via social media, but other companies showed their support of the LGBT community.

Naturally Powering Everyone pic.twitter.com/J8g70TrCny

— Chobani (@Chobani) February 8, 2014

Russia’s intolerance has been a dark cloud over the Olympic celebrations.

“This week’s arrests of gay activists in Moscow and St. Petersburg prove that even Vladimir Putin’s weakest assurances are lies,” Andrew Miller, a member of the New York based advocacy group Queer Nation, told The Free Press. The gay rights group has spearheaded the effort to call attention to Russia’s anti-gay intolerance.

Human rights advocates say the propaganda law is so restrictive and vague that it deters almost any public expression of support for gay rights.

“The law goes considerably further than that,” Jeff Sharlet, an author and journalist said. “It’s a resurrection of the Soviet-era Article 70, a similarly vague ban on ‘propaganda’ deemed threatening to the state. Journalist Elena Kostyuchenko was arrested for singing the national anthem. She’s a lesbian activist as well, but the law is sufficiently vague as to criminalize even her voice raised in patriotic song.”

Those who watched from home were not afraid to voice their opinion:

Or go hospital after being gay bashed? “@McDonalds: It’s the Olympics. Go big or go home. Share Olympic excitement & #CelebrateWithABite”

— Dan Savage (@fakedansavage) February 8, 2014

This is an awful lot of shiny spandex and latex for a government which has a problem with, uh, ‘deviant’ sex acts. #cheerstosochi

— Andrea Grimes (@andreagrimes) February 8, 2014

Which, let’s face it, @NBCOlympics & @CBC, is just weak journalism. It’s now an issue whether you like it or not. So report the news.

— JeffSharlet (@JeffSharlet) February 8, 2014

In the gayest moment of #sochi2014 thus far. A uniformed policemen’s all male chorus sings Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky” #CheersToSochi

— Nancy Lee Grahn (@NancyLeeGrahn) February 8, 2014

“Our Games will be yours,” Sochi Olympic Organizing Committee President Dmitry Chernyshenko said in a speech, which subtly referred to the controversy. “All of yours. Because when we come together in all our diversity, it is the Olympic Games that unite us.”