So this is crazy, don't call me maybe...

Basically, if your gay and you know it then you should surely fear to show it when in Russia. It's no secret there are a few major athletes in the world who are gay and a few of them are going to be in attendance at the Olympics, either performing or supporting their fellow athletes. Not to mention the sheer number of tourists arriving in the country who are not hetero-normative.

In this day and age, is this something Americans and the rest of the world should be supporting? Supporting your answers in the comments is always appreciated!! less

First off, the Olympics are (and--at least in the modern era--have basically always been) something of a political pissing contest. Maybe there's something to be said for MINIMIZING the amount of "political football," but not boycotting the Olympics isn't going to convert a politically-saturated event into pure fun and games.

Second, failing to object to the status quo (in this case, refraining from boycotting the Olympics) is itself a political act. Whether intentional or not, failing to fight problems in the status quo is effectively equivalent to tacitly endorsing them. Ignoring the human rights crises in Russia for the sake of the Olympics is not the "neutral" choice; it's every bit as political as the decision to boycott (in effect, at least; your intentions may be entirely apolitical, but the LGBTQ folks being jailed and beaten don't care much about your intentions on this one if the effect is the continuation of systems of discrimination).

Third, however, I'm not entirely certain that a boycott would solve or help to solve the problem permanently. While it might do so, I take issue with the common assumption that boycotts are always an effective strategy and that their benefits outweigh their costs (I also take issue with the extreme opposite assumption: that boycotts never work and that they're always too costly and risky). Even if any state was willing to threaten to boycott the upcoming Olympics (which I'm not sure is the case anyway), Putin would likely just institute a temporary moratorium on prosecution of LGBTQ folks. At most, he might promise to improve in the future. Neither of those responses are particularly likely to lead to meaningful long term change. There might be a way to approach a boycott that would fix these problems, but if so, it isn't readily apparent to me.

That said, if a boycott would likely result in meaningful change, the benefits of which outweigh the costs of boycotting (or threatening to boycott), AND a critical mass of states would actually be willing to participate in such a boycott as to make it effective, then sure, it would be a worthwhile approach to addressing Russia's human rights abuses. less

So this is crazy, don't call me maybe...

Basically, if your gay and you know it then you should surely fear to show it when in Russia. It's no secret there are a few major athletes in the world who are gay and a few of them are going to be in attendance at the Olympics, either performing or supporting their fellow athletes. Not to mention the sheer number of tourists arriving in the country who are not hetero-normative.

In this day and age, is this something Americans and the rest of the world should be supporting? Supporting your answers in the comments is always appreciated!! less

I guess I find that stance to be somewhat disturbing considering one does not simply decide they are gay or straight and no one should ever be condemned or punished for it in any way. With the civil rights struggles here for their rights to simply be "normal" and "human" that this would cause a little bit more of a stir in our community. I guess I pegged it wrong. less

I guess I find that stance to be somewhat disturbing considering one does not simply decide they are gay or straight and no one should ever be condemned or punished for it in any way. With the civil rights struggles here for their rights to simply be "normal" and "human" that this would cause a little bit more of a stir in our community. I guess I pegged it wrong. less

Dear Stormy, I am just trying to be realistic. You don't see the global picture. Throughout history trying to interfere in another country's internal politics has never resulted in anything positive, look what is happening in Iraq and Afghanistan for example. Foreign intervention only exacerbates internal struggles.

The only wise solution is to let Russia outgrow their own problems. Boycotting Olympics would not make Putin any less popular, it will only make Russians more hostile to other countries. This exactly how Putin maintains his popularity.

Do you know why so many people all over the world are anti-american? This is the reason: the Superman complex. Your belief that you can save the world is simply wrong. I bet you don't tell your neighbors how they are supposed raise their kids (just as an example), what gives you the right to think that some country's politics is wrong? No offense, but it is none of your business. less

Boycotting isn't necessarily interfering so much as it is saying "I refuse to support your economy due to your mistreatment of human beings". It's really just that simple. The Olympics does NOTHING for anyone except boost a host's economy. That's it.

No one said anything about saving the world so don't put words in my mouth but there is a point where enough is enough. less

Enough is enough what? Are you Russian? Do you live there? Do you pay taxes there? Does this law affect you in any possible way? If not, then I will repeat: It is none of your bloody business.If you want to be political there are plenty of issues closer to home.

The only people that would suffer from boycotting are the sportsmen whose income and career depends on their participation in Olympics. less

The law is heinous and it's unlikely to change any time soon, and the Olympics are always a clusterfuck of politics. However, they're intended to celebrate the achievement of the athletes. They work for years to be eligible. The games have been held in less than hospitable environments before, and it will probably happen again. less

The law is heinous and it's unlikely to change any time soon, and the Olympics are always a clusterfuck of politics. However, they're intended to celebrate the achievement of the athletes. They work for years to be eligible. The games have been held in less than hospitable environments before, and it will probably happen again. less