Tag: anti-gay

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Sen. Jeff Merkley to introduce Senate resolution asking IOC for guarantees protecting LGBT Olympic athletes in Sochi

Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon will introduce a Senate resolution addressing possible LGBT discrimination during the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games:

The resolution will ask the IOC both to oppose the law itself and to receive a guarantee that athletes and spectators will not be discriminated against on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity at the Sochi Winter Olympics, Merkley spokesman Jamal Raad said. The language is still being finalized, however, and he said the resolution will not be introduced formally until the Senate returns from its August recess.

The resolution would be the Senate’s first formal statement regarding the Russian law, which was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in June.

This comes after receiving conflicting reports from the IOC and from Russian officials on the issue.

The IOC says they have received assurances “from the highest level of government in Russia that the legislation will not affect those attending or taking part in the Games,” while Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko told R-Sport Thursday that Russia’s anti-LGBT propaganda law would remain in effect during the Sochi Olympics in February 2014.

“No one is forbidding an athlete with non-traditional sexual orientation from coming to Sochi, but if he goes onto the street and starts propagandizing it, then of course he will be held accountable,” Mutko told R-Sport.

The legislation, signed into law by Russian President Vladimir Putin this June, authorizes the 15-day jailing of foreigners and fines for both foreigners and Russians who are convicted of “promotion of non-traditional sexual relations among minors.”

(via Buzzfeed)

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NOM’s Brian Brown is mad about New Mexico

“The battle for marriage as God designed has come to The Land of Enchantment; and it’s your turn to stand in the breach. Every person who believes marriage to be the union of one man and one woman needs to contact Governor Martinez today, urging her and her administration to give their full support to the defense of marriage.

“As you are probably aware, two men applied for a marriage license in Santa Fe County. A brave County Clerk refused to issue the license because she knew, as you do, that New Mexico’s definition of marriage is the union of one man and one woman. As a result, these men have filed a lawsuit seeking to have New Mexico give legal recognition to same sex marriage. And yesterday the Santa Fe Commission voted to support this suit!

“We need the Governor to intervene because the State’s Attorney General is refusing to do so. In fact, the Attorney General has betrayed his oath of office by urging the Court to overturn New Mexico’s recognition of traditional marriage and legalize same-sex marriage.” – Hate group leader Brian Brown, calling on supporters to protest the evil gays in New Mexico.

New Mexico currently has no law legalizing or outlawing marriage equality.

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The New York Times editorializes on Putin’s “war on gays”

Graphic via Memeographs

“The United State needs to be more forceful.  So does the International Olympic Committee, which too often fails to defend the Olympic ideals and should be leading a full-throated international campaign to insist that Russia repeal these laws.” – New York Times editorial board July 27, 2013

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Russia: Lawmaker says government cannot “suspend” anti-gay laws for the 2014 Sochi Games

Anti-gay Russian legislator Vitaly Milonov

BBC’s Russian-language service has posted a story quoting the co-sponsor of Russia’s “homosexual propaganda” bill, who says that the government does not have the power to selectively suspend enforcement during the Sochi Olympics, as was suggested they would to the International Olympic Committee last week:

St. Petersburg legislator Vitaly Milonov of the [ruling – ed.] United Russia Party has asked the government to refrain from selectively enforcing the law on “gay propaganda,” which he co-sponsored. On Friday, the International Olympic Committee informed journalists that the Russian government had assured the safety of all athletes and spectators without respect to their sexual orientation.

“I haven’t heard any comments from the government of the Russian Federation, but I know that it is acting in accordance with Russian law. And if a law has been approved by the federal legislature and signed by the president, then the government has no right to suspend it. It doesn’t have the authority,” said Milonov in an interview with Interfax. Further, during an interview with “Ekho Moskvy” the legislator claimed that the law on “defending children from propaganda of non-traditional values,” for which he lobbied, has nothing to do with “the ordinary life of adults” [whatever that means – ed.], adding that he personally doesn’t know any LGBT athletes.

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Louisiana Sheriff claims he didn’t know anti-sodomy laws were declared unconstitutional ten years ago

East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid J. Gautreaux

A dozen gay men have been arrested since 2011 by the Sheriff’s Office task force for merely discussing or agreeing to have consensual sex with an undercover agent. Not prostitution, as no money ever changed hands; and not sex in a public place – just consensual sex between two adults in the privacy of a home.

From the Advocate:

An undercover East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff’s deputy was staking out Manchac Park about 10 a.m. one day this month when a slow-moving sedan pulling into the parking lot caught his attention. The deputy parked alongside the 65-year-old driver and, after denying being a cop, began a casual conversation that was electronically monitored by a backup team nearby.

As the two men moved their chat to a picnic table, the deputy propositioned his target with “some drinks and some fun” back at his place, later inquiring whether the man had any condoms, according to court records. After following the deputy to a nearby apartment, the man was handcuffed and booked into Parish Prison on a single count of attempted crime against nature.

The Sheriff now says he didn’t know the law was invalidated by the Supreme Court.

“To our knowledge, the Sheriff’s office was never contacted or told that the law was not enforceable or prosecutable,” a statement from the Sheriff’s Office claims. It was issued Sunday after The Advocate newspaper in Louisiana exposed the illegal undercover sting operation.

That explanation doesn’t square with Metro Councilman John Delgado.

“Does he know that slavery is no longer around?” an outraged Delgado told The Advocate newspaper in Louisiana. “Does he know that we have cars and no longer horse and buggies?”

The newspaper now reports that Delgado is demanding apologies be issued to the 12 men who were arrested, one as recent as this month.

(via the Advocate)

UPDATE:

On Monday, Sheriff Sid J. Gautreaux III issued a statement apologizing “to anyone that was unintentionally harmed or offended by the actions of our investigations.”

The sheriff said that he had instructed his employees to no longer use “this unconstitutional law,” and that he was conducting “a comprehensive evaluation of undercover operations made by our deputies and will make changes to ensure better supervision, training and guidance.”

Think Progress points out that 14 U.S. states still have anti-sodomy laws on the books despite their unconstitutionality.

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International Olympic Committee says Russian anti-gay laws won’t affect athletes & fans at Sochi Games

The International Olympic Committee has issued a statement that it has received “assurances from the highest level” of the Russian government that athletes and fans that attend the Sochi Olympic Games will not be subject to the national ban on “promoting homosexuality.”

“As a sporting organization, what we can do is to continue to work to ensure that the Games can take place without discrimination against athletes, officials, spectators and the media,” the IOC said in an emailed statement. “To that end, the IOC has received assurances from the highest level of government in Russia that the legislation will not affect those attending or taking part in the Games.”

The IOC added that “this legislation has just been passed into law, and it remains to be seen whether and how it will be implemented, particularly as regards the Games in Sochi.” While the law’s proponents argue that it is aimed at protecting children from harmful influences, critics allege that the move is part of a broader crackdown on Russia’s gay community. Russia has come under international criticism, including from the European Court of Human Rights, for its treatment of gay people.

NBC said this to Buzzfeed regarding the IOC’s statement :

“NBCUniversal strongly supports equal rights and the fair treatment for all people. The spirit of the Olympic Games is about unifying people and countries through the celebration of sport and it is our hope that spirit will prevail,” NBCUniversal senior vice president of corporate communications Cameron Blanchard told BuzzFeed Friday evening.

Geidner reports that NBC noted that the Olympics are still seven months away and that “specific coverage plans are yet to be finalized.”

(via JMG)

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HRC calls on NBC to expose anti-gay laws in Russia during Olympics

The Human Rights Campaign is calling on NBC, the official broadcaster of the Olympic Games, to call out Russia’s anti-gay policies during their telecast.  

Chad Griffin says “NBCUniversal, which has the exclusive rights to broadcast the Olympics in the United States, has a unique opportunity — and a responsibility — to expose this inhumane and unjust law to the millions of American viewers who will tune in to watch the Games.’

Read the full letter here

(via TheBackLot.com)

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Liberty Council asks Facebook to “Like” stoning gays to death

Right Wing Watch reports that yesterday the virulently anti-gay Liberty Counsel asked its Facebook followers to “like” the above banner which cites the biblical call for homosexuals to be put to death. 

Since Right Wing Watch brought this to light, Liberty Council has removed the banner from its page and the image from its photo albums.

Brian Tashman writes: “We are eagerly awaiting Liberty Counsel’s other Facebook images on stoning women who had sex before marriage; adulterers; kids who curse their parents; blasphemers; sorcerers; Sabbath-breakers and false prophets.” 

The banner now features the same image, but with the biblical notation of Matthew 19:4-6: “at the beginning the Creator made them male and female.” 

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An Open Letter from the CEO of Stolichnaya Vodka to the LGBT community

The CEO of Stolichnaya Vodka issued a statement today in an effort to tamp down a possible boycott of the company’s product in protest of recent anti-gay legislation in Russia:

The recent dreadful actions taken by the Russian Government limiting the rights of the LGBT community and the passionate reaction of the community have prompted me to write this letter to you.

I want to stress that Stoli firmly opposes such attitude and actions. Indeed, as a company that encourages transparency and fairness, we are upset and angry. Stolichnaya Vodka has always been, and continues to be a fervent supporter and friend to the LGBT community. We also thank the community for having adopted Stoli as their vodka of preference.

In the US, the brand’s commitment to the LGBT community has been ongoing for years. Among the best examples, I can cite the series produced by Stoli in 2006 called “Be Real: Stories from Queer America” which featured short documentaries on real life stories depicting the challenges and accomplishments of the LGBT community in the United States (http://www.logotv.com/shows/dyn/be_real_series/series.jhtml)

Stoli is very proud of its current exclusive national partnership with Gaycities.com and Queerty.com in search of the Most Original Stoli Guy. This is a fantastic program that started as a local initiative in Colorado and became a national platform. Previous national initiatives included serving as the official vodka of the Miami Gay Pride Week as well as ongoing events with focus on Pride month.

[snip]

We fully support and endorse your objectives to fight against prejudice in Russia. In the past decade, SPI has been actively advocating in favor of freedom, tolerance and openness in society, standing very passionately on the side of the LGBT community and will continue to support any effective initiative in that direction.

Sincerely yours

Val Mendeleev

Chief Executive Officer

SPI Group

(via Advocate)

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Photos: LGBT Pride march in Russia turns violent

As Buzzfeed points out, it is scary to be in Russia right now.

Take a look at just a few pics of how LGBT citizens are treating after recent anti-gay laws have been passed.  These are from the St. Petersburg Gay Pride march:

Image by Dmitry Lovetsky / AP

Image by OLGA MALTSEVA / Getty Images

Image by ALEXANDER DEMIANCHUK / Reuters

Russia is hosting the 2014 Olympic games in Sochi. What does this mean for gay athletes and spectators? Is the US Olympic Committee okay with this?

Check out many more photos at Buzzfeed to get a better scope of what is happening in Russia today.