Fifty-two Olympians urge Russia to repeal 'gay propaganda' laws

[dipsydoodle]

Source: Guardian

On the eve of the Sochi Winter Games, more than 50 current and former Olympians have called on the Russian authorities to repeal recently introduced anti-gay laws and criticised the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and multinational sponsors for not doing more to force them to do so.

Fifty-two Olympians, with dozens of medals between them and including 12 competitors in Sochi, have launched a trenchant criticism of the lack of action to force Vladimir Putin's administration to scale back laws that forbid "gay propaganda" aimed at under-18s and have led to a wave of homophobic attacks.

The signatories to the so-called "principle six" campaign – named after the clause in the Olympic charter that supposedly guarantees non-discrimination – include the American snowboarding gold medallist Seth Wescott, the Sochi-bound Canadian biathlete Rosanna Crawford and the Australian four-man bobsled team.

Other famous former Olympians who are backing the call include the tennis players Martina Navratilova and Andy Roddick, the former Leeds United footballer Robbie Rogers, and the four-time gold-medal-winning diver Greg Louganis.

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jan/30/olympic-athletes-russia-repeal-anti-gay-laws

---

Minor logistic problem there : the law passed in July was a federal law which unified existing laws in the regions. Removing the federal law would have no effect on the regional laws. Example here of a regional case : Constitutional Court dismisses complaint against St. Petersburg gay propaganda law http://rapsinews.com/news/20131204/269981540.html

[Sand Wind]

1. I will boycott every news organisation or website who report about the Russian Olympic.

[dipsydoodle]

2. I'm not sure you mean that.

The chances of them not being mentioned at all here on DU are pretty remote.

[Alamuti Lotus]

4. seems pretty serious, and he's already threatened DU if they're mentioned

I prevent DU: I will not respect the fact that you report about the Russian Olympic
You will be the scum of the web for me.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024399335

and this lovely (hidden) posting from there:

And yes we will attack all website who report about it.
So be prepared DU.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4399358

[Android3.14]

3. Should probably refine that to actual sponsors

Broad sweeping statements are the bane of the protester.
Perhaps a narrower reality-based approach would be more effective in the real world.
http://www.sochi2014.com/en/partners-about

[yorgatron]

6. yeah, just like Jesse Owens ramming it in Hitler's face in Berlin 1936.

[William769]

7. what complete and utter bullshit!

This is the first place you lose the argument "I have friends and relatives that are gay" and it only gets worse from there. People are fighting for their lives, their children, their families. and your fucking worried about your precious games?

With friends like you who needs enemies?

I'm going to stop here because I have a sneaky suspicion you just might find enough people on a jury to support your *******.

Have a nice day.

[awoke_in_2003]

51. That line sounds as bad...

as "I know black people"

[William769]

52. He has been shown the door.

[awoke_in_2003]

53. About f'ing time...

that one has been transparent for a while

[hrmjustin]

8. When in Rome?

So if when your in Rome they beat and kill gays should everybody else do the same?

[hrmjustin]

14. How is this not a 6-0 hide?

[stevenleser]

17. All I can say is, I did my part. I was juror #1

On Thu Jan 30, 2014, 03:30 PM an alert was sent on the following post:

I think this is the wrong venue, and will not gain much sympathy
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=713872

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

old style homophobic spew - "some of my best friends are..."

JURY RESULTS

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Thu Jan 30, 2014, 03:40 PM, and the Jury voted 4-2 to HIDE IT.

Juror #1 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: Proud to vote to hide this mountain of goat crap
Juror #2 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: Lots of anti-gay rhetoric and interesting use of quotation marks.
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: "When all you have is a hammer ... all you see are nails." This post is fine. Alerter needs thicker skin.
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Nothing hideworthy. Nothing offensive. Waste of an alert.
Juror #5 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #6 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

[uppityperson]

18. Would you please alert on the pm you got with the jury results?

There is an alert thing on the pm, please alert as Admin has said they want to be notified of jurors like those.

[stevenleser]

19. Way ahead of you. Already done. nt

[uppityperson]

20. Thank you, greatly appreciate it.

[stevenleser]

25. You're welcome!

[hrmjustin]

26. Thank you.

[hrmjustin]

31. Thank you and thanks for alerting on the jury results.

[stevenleser]

49. You're welcome!

[SidDithers]

39. I'm so stealing "mountain of goat crap"...

you have a fine way with words, Mr. Leser.



Sid

[stevenleser]

45. LMAO, you just made me do an internet search to see if anyone had said it before.

Only two hits in the whole internet via a google search and neither is a prominent person. I shall claim it as my own!

[theHandpuppet]

47. Doncha just love it...

When jurors tell you to just lighten up?

[hrmjustin]

48. Well they have been alerted on so the admins can see it.

[stevenleser]

54. EarlG took care of it. Pizza has been served

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=profile&uid=123712

[William769]

56. He got the other one also.

[stevenleser]

59. Yup, EarlG is all over it today!

[hrmjustin]

58. Thanks for letting me know.

[MADem]

9. You will, I'm sure, benefit from a re-reading of the TOS.

You seem to have lost your way, I believe.

[Behind the Aegis]

10. The Gay Agenda

[William769]

11. I guess we don't need to post the homophobic agenda.

It's already been posted.

[Behind the Aegis]

13. That would be....

Or in actuality...

[William769]

15. ...

[pinto]

16. LOL

+1

[SidDithers]

27. Maybe the funniest half hour of TV I've ever seen...

S2E1 of The IT Crowd, since this thread could use a bit more levity

http://vimeo.com/38287250

Sid

[CreekDog]

57. he's no longer with us

[Sissyk]

12. This post is full of so much fail

I don't even know where to begin so I'll just go to the end.

"I have NO objections to most people's beliefs, habits, race, color,etc."

Where do gay people fit in your four categories listed there? It's not beliefs, race or color. So are you saying being gay is a "habit".

This post is beyond any I've seen and you should be tombstoned, IMO.

[CreekDog]

34. That poster is full of so much fail

[Bluenorthwest]

22. It only took 4 jurors to hide that bigoted bullshit

and in my opinion only one admin should take the time to ban that poster. Your post is vacuous.

[stevenleser]

55. And a second Pizza is served by EarlG

[hrmjustin]

62. Well deserved.

[stevenleser]

23. You've managed to say much more about yourself than about the nine people pointing out bigotry.

By all means, please continue.

Please continue to object to people calling out bigotry

[CreekDog]

41. he can't continue, luckily. but here's an oldie but goodie from him in the meantime:

Alamuti Lotus (3,084 posts)
5. Does "a hardy gut-laugh" count as retaliation?

The ridiculous behavior of American presidents is usually a subject of high comedy for the world to witness, but this latest clumsy bombast of arrogance must have the Kremlin boyars in stitches.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=561777

[William769]

43. It's safe to say he won't like this one then.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017172807

[CreekDog]

60. he's gone too

About Alamuti Lotus
Statistics and Information
Account status: Posting privileges revoked
Member since: Sun Oct 5, 2008, 05:40 PM
Number of posts: 3,093
Number of posts, last 90 days: 128
Favorite forum: Latest Breaking News, 94 posts in the last 90 days (73% of total posts)
Favorite group: Israel/Palestine, 2 posts in the last 90 days (2% of total posts)
Last post: Thu Jan 30, 2014, 04:01 PM

Jury
Willing to serve on Juries: Yes
Eligible to serve on Juries: Yes
Chance of serving on Juries: 80% (explain)
Number of times served on Juries: 32

[William769]

61. Thanks.

[DURHAM D]

44. I thought you might like to know your post was Alerted on.

The vote was 4 - 2 to Leave. I, of course, voted with the majority but a few in this thread would probably think I should recuse myself given that I am a card carrying member of the LGBT community.

Here is the Alert message -

The person who sent the alert wrote: Stalking and gloating--Internet equivalent of 'kicking while down', precisely the bullying behavior I spoke of in the first place.

Note the "I"

[Sissyk]

46. OMFG!!

Yeah, it's apparent who alerted on that. And, 2 voted to hide?? They need to explain themselves.

[CreekDog]

50. Interesting, thank you. Also, two jurors on the post with "gay agenda" in it

didn't think that term was worthy of hiding.

[dbackjon]

24. Ironically enough, Gays are still denied rights in most states

Thanks for comparing us all to BIGOTS.

[Kali]

28. people often confuse who the bullies really are

sometimes it is the bullies who get out-numbered

sometimes when a group stands up to bigotry, bigots claim to be victims

sort of like how some straight people feel victimized by the gay agenda

know what I mean?

[uppityperson]

32. But but but I thought you libruls were supposed to be open minded and accepting, not all grrrr

just in case

Good post, thanks.

[William769]

33. Spot on!

[Behind the Aegis]

35. Yeah, like all that Duck DyNASTY crap.

Where poor ole' Phil was set upon by the evil gayz for simply being an American using his first right amendments!

[uppityperson]

29. Because calling someone out on bigotry is EXACTLY the same thing as being a bigot? Oh. My.

[Aerows]

36. Apparently

I served on that jury and voted a hide, because the entire premise of the post was offensive.

[uppityperson]

37. 4-2 to HIDE IT.

Juror #1 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: Not to mention "mob mentality".
Juror #2 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: It's not a dogpile when you express your opinions, and it doesn't make you a "heterophobe", either, to stand up against bigotry. Not accusing anyone of anything, just pointing out that the poster seems to think that homophobic behavior is on the same playing field as the gay community standing up for their rights.
Juror #3 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: I vote to make DU suck less
Juror #4 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: yep, I agree with the alerter. hide it.
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given

[Aerows]

38. I was juror

#2.

[William769]

40. .

[hrmjustin]

30. This is a joke right?

Please tell me your joking?

Please?

[uppityperson]

42. k& rec