Tag Archives: Sochi Olympics

Johnny Weir: I’m Ready To Be Arrested

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At Yesterday’s Protest In London

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CHICAGO: Activists To Protest McDonald’s Sponsorship Of Sochi Olympics

Next weekend a group of Chicago activists will rally outside the McDonald’s corporate headquarters in protest of their sponsorship of the Sochi Olympics. Members and supporters of StonewallAgain plan on marching at McDonald’s headquarters, 2111 McDonald’s Dr. in Oak Brook, on Aug. 17 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The group is calling on McDonald’s to cease their support of the Games …

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Obama Opposes Olympic Boycott

“I know that one question that’s been raised is how do we approach the Olympics. I want to just make very clear right now I do not think it’s appropriate to boycott the Olympics. We’ve got a bunch of Americans out there who are training hard, who are doing everything they can to succeed. Nobody’s more offended than me by …

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ABC Reporter Grills White House Press Secretary Jay Carney About Russia

Chris Johnson reports at Washington Blade: Under questioning from ABC News’ Jon Karl, Carney said Obama has made clear that he opposes anti-gay laws in other countries that persecute LGBT people. “The president absolutely opposes and has made clear in other countries laws that discriminate against individuals, whether for race, religion, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation,” Carney said. Pressed by …

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IOC Demands “Clarity” From Russia

Today the head of the International Olympic Committee asked Russia for further clarity on whether the ban on “homosexual propaganda” will be enforced during the Sochi Olympics. Last week the IOC said it had received “assurances” from the Russian government that fans and athletes would be exempt from the law during the Games, but that claim was immediately shot down …

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Gilbert Baker: Don’t Wave The Rainbow Flag To Cover Up Russian Atrocities

Via press release from Queer Nation: Gilbert Baker, the creator of the Rainbow Flag and a member of Queer Nation made the following statement to New York Times columnist Frank Bruni: “Olympic flag waving gave a stamp of approval to Nazi atrocities in 1936. Please don’t use the Rainbow Flag to cover up Russian atrocities in 2014. The Rainbow Flag …

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Editorial Of The Day

From the editorial board of the Washington Post: Mr. Obama, speaking on the eve of his cancellation of a summit meeting in Moscow, said he felt Mr. Putin would surely understand “that for most of the countries that participate in the Olympics, we wouldn’t tolerate gays and lesbians being treated differently.” The International Olympic Committee (IOC) should understand that as …

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HomoQuotable – Cyd Zeigler

“Asking the United States and other nations to boycott the Olympics simply punishes 19-year-old athletes, not Vladamir Putin. Buying Ketel One instead of Stolichnaya might take a swipe at a business owner in Moscow or a factory worker in St. Petersburg, but it’s just a pesky mosquito to the Russian government. And caviar? Who eats it anyway? To make a …

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LGBT Groups Seek Designer For Pro-Gay Outfits To Be Worn At Sochi Olympics

Vogue reports: Athlete Ally and All Out are searching for a high profile, international designer to create an anti-homophobia motif for Olympians to wear during Russia’s Winter 2014 Olympics. The move challenges Russia’s new laws against “gay propaganda”, which were introduced in June and make it illegal to equate gay and heterosexual relationships, or to distribute information about gay rights. …

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Greg Louganis: Don’t Boycott Sochi

Four-time Olympic gold medalist Greg Louganis has penned a lengthy column in which he objects to any boycott of the Sochi Olympics.  An excerpt: Boycotting sends the wrong message and will only harm the hard-working athletes set to compete in the 2014 Olympics, not the Russian government itself. I know from personal experience. My first Olympics I won Silver at …

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SWITZERLAND: 320,000 Petition Signatures Delivered To IOC Headquarters

Yesterday the activist group All Out delivered 320,000 petition signatures to IOC headquarters in Switzerland. The petition demands that Russia repeal its national anti-gay bill before the start of the Sochi Olympics and calls on the IOC to issue a condemnation of the law. “Ironically, the global outcry is transforming Sochi into an amazing platform for Russians and athletes to …

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George Takei On Moving The Olympics

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REPORT: Russia Is Already Silencing Journalists & Bloggers Ahead Of Olympics

Human Rights Watch reports: Local authorities have harassed numerous activists and journalists who criticized or expressed concerns about preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. The six-month countdown to the Sochi Games opening ceremony is this week. Human Rights Watch has documented government efforts to intimidate several organizations and individuals who have investigated or spoken out against abuse …

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McDonald’s: Proud Winter Games Partner

(Tipped by JMG reader Robert)

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How Cable News Covered Russia

Via Media Matters.

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New York Times: Why Aren’t Olympic Officials More Outraged About Russia?

Here’s what NBC really said in the article linked by Fischer: NBC officials might have been expected to speak forcefully, given that the network paid $775 million to broadcast the Sochi Games, and that its journalists face the potential of being prosecuted for addressing the issue of homosexuality. NBC Universal reiterated on Tuesday a statement that it “strongly supports equal …

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HomoQuotable – Stephen Fry

“I am gay. I am a Jew. My mother lost over a dozen of her family to Hitler’s anti-Semitism. Every time in Russia (and it is constantly) a gay teenager is forced into suicide, a lesbian ‘correctively’ raped, gay men and women beaten to death by neo-Nazi thugs while the Russian police stand idly by, the world is diminished and …

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Obama On Russia: I Have No Patience For Countries That Treat LGBT People Badly

Last night President Obama made a lengthy appearance on the Tonight Show, where Jay Leno brought up the subject of Russia’s crackdown on LGBT people. Jay Leno also brought up the recent crackdown on gays in Russia, comparing the country’s treatment of homosexuality to the way Nazi Germany persecuted Jews. President Obama said he has “no patience for countries that …

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George Takei: Move The Olympics

“Last week, Russia’s Sports Minister confirmed that the country intends to enforce its laws against visiting LGBT athletes, trainers and fans, meaning anyone even so much as waving a rainbow flag (and I presume many men enthusiastically watching and dramatically commenting on figure skating) would be arrested, held for weeks and then deported.Given this position, the IOC must do the …

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