These Are the 6 Openly Gay Athletes Competing at the Sochi Olympics

[sheshe2]

On Sunday the world gained another openly gay Olympic athlete: Ari-Pekka Liukkonen of Finland. His announcement comes just days before the 2014 Winter Olympic Games start in Sochi, Russia, where an anti-gay law has been in effect since last year. The Finnish swimmer said, “I wanted to start a broader discussion in connection with Sochi, because it’s sad that the legislation in Russia restricts the human rights of young people and others.”
This issue is both public and personal for the six openly gay Olympians who will be competing at Sochi. They'll join 6,000 athletes from 85 countries — some of whom will be wearing space suits, dazzlingly geometric pants or mariachi costumes.





1) Anastasia Bucsis, Canadian speed skater



Bucsis came out publicly at Calgary’s Gay Pride Parade in September 2013, two years after telling her family and friends. The 24-year-old speed skater is on Canada’s national team and competed in the 500-meter speed skating event at the 2010 Vancouver Games. She told the Globe and Mail she was “so proud to be gay” and wanted to speak out against Russia’s anti-gay laws: “I could never promote that message of concealing who you are with all of this going on in Russia. I’m kind of happy that I did it on my own terms. ... I also have faith in Russia. I think, I hope, that things will get better.”

2) Belle Brockhoff, Australian snowboarder



rockhoff was the first LGBT Olympian to come out in protest of Russia’s legislation, during an interview with Australia’s ABC TV on Aug. 22, 2013. The 20-year-old snowboarder and Olympic newbie said she wanted to show Putin how successful gay and lesbian athletes could be. In January Brockhoff seriously upped her game: “After I compete, I'm willing to rip on [Putin's] ass. I'm not happy and there's a bunch of other Olympians who are not happy either.” She promised to send him a six-finger salute on camera — representing Principle Six, the Olympic Charter’s anti-discrimination principle.

5) Cheryl Maas, Dutch snowboard



Maas is married to Norwegian former snowboarder Stine Brun Kjeldaas, with whom she has a daughter. The 29-year-old snowboarder competed in the half-pipe at the 2006 Torino Games. Her wife, a fellow Olympian, competed in the 2002 Salt Lake City Games and won silver in the half-pipe at the 1998 Nagano Games. In October, Maas said: "In my opinion, the IOC should choose a location more deliberately. They should exclude countries where certain minorities are excluded, such as in Russia. With the choice of Russia, the IOC is taking a step back in time. Russia lives in the past, while we should look forward."

I watched Cheryl Maas, damn she was awesome! It is about the spirit, the heart and the passion. It is brilliance. It will never matter if you are gay, man, woman, straight, black, white, muslim. Why should it?!



Lot's more here!

http://www.boiseweekly.com/boise/these-are-the-6-openly-gay-athletes-competing-at-the-sochi-olympics/Content?oid=3053243

[Tx4obama]

1. Below is a link that is working...

Here: http://www.boiseweekly.com/boise/these-are-the-6-openly-gay-athletes-competing-at-the-sochi-olympics/Content?oid=3053243

[sheshe2]

2. Thanks Tx ...updated!

[Tx4obama]

3. So, all 6 listed in the article are women - I'm surprised there aren't any men listed. n/t

[MADem]

4. The first athlete listed is male...

On Sunday the world gained another openly gay Olympic athlete: Ari-Pekka Liukkonen of Finland. His announcement comes just days before the 2014 Winter Olympic Games start in Sochi, Russia, where an anti-gay law has been in effect since last year. The Finnish swimmer said, “I wanted to start a broader discussion in connection with Sochi, because it’s sad that the legislation in Russia restricts the human rights of young people and others.”

I don't think these are the only gay athletes at Sochi, though....

The Canadians have been told to shut up about it by their handlers. Some just don't want to discuss the matter, others do, but are confused as to what they are allowed to say and some fear punishment:

AFRAID OF TROUBLE: IOC rules governing what athletes can and cannot say aren’t as clear as they could be. Laid out in the Olympic Charter, they say all demonstrations and propaganda are banned at Olympic sites, venues and “other areas.”

The charter says violators can be expelled, but that has “seldom if ever” happened, the IOC says. U.S. sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos were sent home for their ‘black power’ salute at the 1968 Mexico City Games, when they thrust their black-gloved fists skyward on the medal podium.

In Sochi, the IOC and Russian organizers also sent conflicting signals. IOC President Thomas Bach said Olympians are “absolutely free” to speak on gay rights in press conferences. Sochi organizers contradicted Bach but then backpedalled.

The result: confusion.

[Bluenorthwest]

5. That is intentional 'confusion' which makes fear, which allows oppression.

Not one of the 'out' athletes is American. Anyone who thinks these 6 are the only ones there is telling themselves a cute story so they can pretend they are not watching what they are watching, frightened people forced to compete in a hostile environment for the sake of a marketing event. 'To sell cereal, we must oppress you'.