• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Travel
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Film/TV/Stream
  • Republicans
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Men
  • Trans Rights
  • Tech/Science
  • Royals
  • Monkeypox

Human Rights Watch Demands Olympic Committee Protect LGBT Olympians From Russian Anti-Gay Bill

Kyler Geoffroy June 20, 2013

Sochi logoIn a letter sent to the International Olympic Committee yesterday, the New York City based Human Rights Watch organization expressed growing concern that Russia's new antigay law may indeed be used to target LGBT Olympians during the upcoming 2014 Olympics in Sochi. While the IOC issued a statement earlier this week attempting to quell such fears, HRW is pushing for further clarification and is demanding the IOC take proactive steps to ensure discrimination does not occur: 

"Although news reports this week quoted a spokesman saying that the IOC is "concerned" about the draft law being passed and reiterated the IOC's "long commitment to non-discrimination against those taking part in the Olympic Games," we urge the IOC to take additional steps to send a clear signal to the Russian authorities that discrimination of people based on their sexual orientation and gender identity is sharply at odds with Russia's human rights and Olympic commitments.

We also encourage you to obtain guarantees from the Russian authorities that no homophobic legislation will be adopted or implemented and that the authorities will refrain from any additional discriminatory legislative initiatives or policies that discriminate against lesbians, gays, bisexual, and transgender people. We also urge you to press the authorities to state publicly that, as Olympic Host, Russia will ensure, without distinction, the safety and the freedom of expression and association of all athletes, coaches, fans, and others who will attend the Sochi Games."

The letter comes on the heels of a Russian LGBT group calling for a boycott of the Sochi Olympics. In its current form, the homophobic draft law applies not only to Russian citizens, but to anyone who publicly addresses homosexuality while in Russia. Foreigners – possibly including athletes – who violate the law, such as speaking about their sexual orientation in public, run the risk of being fined, arrested for up to 15 days, and deported from Russia. 

Topics: News More Posts About: News, olympics, Russia, Russia

Related Posts
  • Another Uk Olympian Comes Out; Dame Kelly Holmes, Competed in Track Events At Athens Games
  • Putin: Russia will respond to long-range missiles supplied to Ukraine
  • Russian TV Uses Putin-Proliferated Homophobia in Attempt to Undermine New WH Press Secy; Racist, Anti-Gay Claims Mimic Nasty US Right-Wing Lies
  • Gay Man Tells Co-Worker to Stop Talking to Him About Her Pregnancy: ‘I Don’t Care’

    Gay Man Tells Co-Worker to Stop Talking to Him About Her Pregnancy: ‘I Don’t Care’

      Published by PopCrush   A man took to Reddit explaining he became frustrated after his co-worker began oversharing about her pregnancy with him. At first he didn’t mind talking to her about her pregnancy, but …Read More »
  • Biles, Denzel Washington, Rapinoe among winners of top US honor

    Biles, Denzel Washington, Rapinoe among winners of top US honor

    Published by AFP Simone Biles competing on the vault at the 2016 P&G Gymnastics Championships in St. Louis, Missouri Washington (AFP) – Gymnastics star Simone Biles, actor Denzel Washington and the late tech visionary Steve Jobs …Read More »
  • Trump thought marching to Capitol with rioting supporters would be ‘a dramatic made-for-TV moment’: report

    Trump thought marching to Capitol with rioting supporters would be ‘a dramatic made-for-TV moment’: report

    Published by Raw Story By Brad Reed A new report from the Washington Post provides more details about former President Donald Trump’s desire to match to the Capitol with supporters who would subsequently illegally break into …Read More »
  • In Switzerland, first same-sex couples say “I do”

    In Switzerland, first same-sex couples say “I do”

    Published by Reuters By Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi and Arnd Wiegmann SCHAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland (Reuters) – Alois Carnier, 57, and Peter Leu, 67, said “wholeheartedly, I do” to each other on Friday as same-sex marriages became legal in …Read More »
Previous Post: « Wounded Afghan War Vet Becomes (Underwear) Model Of Inspiration: PHOTOS, VIDEO
Next Post: Dan Savage Discusses His Views On Bisexuality And Biphobia: VIDEO »

Primary Sidebar

News

  • Horseshoe crabs: ‘Living fossils’ vital for vaccine safety

    Horseshoe crabs: ‘Living fossils’ vital for vaccine safety

  • ‘A Disgusting Sight In Any Case’: Vladimir Putin Fires Back After G7 Leaders Joke About His Infamous Horse-Riding Picture

    ‘A Disgusting Sight In Any Case’: Vladimir Putin Fires Back After G7 Leaders Joke About His Infamous Horse-Riding Picture

  • Russia abandons Snake Island in victory for Ukraine

    Russia abandons Snake Island in victory for Ukraine

RSS Partner Links

  • Rebel Wilson confesses she’s “lost all control” while on holiday at an all-inclusive resort
  • Saturday Round-Up: Danny Roberts; Andrew Ahn; Tessa Thompson; Billy Porter; Elliot Page; Dan Jervis & more!
  • Saturday 'Stache
  • Kathryn Gallagher Releases New Song 'Read It In The Paper' About Finding Out an Ex Was Engaged
  • Amanda Bynes Ditches Bright Yellow Hair for a Lighter Blonde Look (New Photos)
  • DM: The Palace buried the bullying inquiry to protect the ‘defensive’ Sussexes
  • “Brie Larson’s social media presence is a bit lonely and offbeat” links

Most Recent

  • Mac Engel Column: WNBA player speaks honest truth about Brittney Griner: ‘If this was Shaq, he’d be home’

    Mac Engel Column: WNBA player speaks honest truth about Brittney Griner: ‘If this was Shaq, he’d be home’

  • Gay Man Tells Co-Worker to Stop Talking to Him About Her Pregnancy: ‘I Don’t Care’

    Gay Man Tells Co-Worker to Stop Talking to Him About Her Pregnancy: ‘I Don’t Care’

  • Biles, Denzel Washington, Rapinoe among winners of top US honor

    Biles, Denzel Washington, Rapinoe among winners of top US honor

  • Trump thought marching to Capitol with rioting supporters would be ‘a dramatic made-for-TV moment’: report

    Trump thought marching to Capitol with rioting supporters would be ‘a dramatic made-for-TV moment’: report

  • In Switzerland, first same-sex couples say “I do”

    In Switzerland, first same-sex couples say “I do”

  • Valkyrie’s sexuality was a big topic of conversation, says Tessa Thompson

    Valkyrie’s sexuality was a big topic of conversation, says Tessa Thompson

  • ‘Soft’ playwright Donja R. Love uses his own HIV+ diagnosis to illuminate his theatrical work

    ‘Soft’ playwright Donja R. Love uses his own HIV+ diagnosis to illuminate his theatrical work

  • Analysis-After abortion, conservative U.S. justices take aim at other precedents

    Analysis-After abortion, conservative U.S. justices take aim at other precedents

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy
[towleroadmr] [towleroadtn]

Footer

Copyright © 2022 · Log in