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n2doc

(47,953 posts)
Sun Aug 11, 2013, 07:06 PM Aug 2013

Gay skater Johnny Weir: I’m prepared to be arrested at Winter Olympics

By David Ferguson

Gay Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir has said that he does not plan to campaign for LGBT rights or even openly kiss his Russian-born husband at the games in Sochi, but that he is prepared to be arrested by Russian authorities. The flamboyant athlete and reality TV star told CBS News that he is uncertain whether he will even be allowed into the country to compete.

“In Russia, just the sheer fact that you could be gay, you can get arrested, fined, and it’s a terrible thing to even think of,” Weir said. “Myself, even, just walking down the street, going to get Starbucks in the morning, and somebody could arrest me just because I look too gay.”

Russia has found itself increasingly out of step with the rest of the world because of its regressive attitude toward LGBT people. Russian officials like St. Petersburg’s Vitaly Milanov have passed laws in the country outlawing “homosexual propaganda,” a blanket term that means any depiction of same sex relationships that does not paint them as abhorrent and anomalous. Russian youth have engaged in a campaign of torture and murder of LGBT teens.

It is currently unclear whether Russian officials intend to prosecute LGBT athletes and Olympic personnel or whether visitors will be immune to the discriminatory laws faced by Russian citizens. Milanov insists that the laws will be enforced universally, whereas the AP reported Friday that NBC has assured issued its LGBT employees that the network will do everything in its power to keep them safe.

more
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/08/10/gay-skater-johnny-weir-im-prepared-to-be-arrested-at-winter-olympics/

17 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Gay skater Johnny Weir: I’m prepared to be arrested at Winter Olympics (Original Post) n2doc Aug 2013 OP
Kiss him for justice! shenmue Aug 2013 #1
Truly a brave and talented young man LostOne4Ever Aug 2013 #2
Perhaps all athletes could ban together and say they are leaving if any athlete gets arrested... cascadiance Aug 2013 #3
I would support anything LostOne4Ever Aug 2013 #4
I think everyone should hold hands and scream "It's OKAY to be GAY!" in ten or 20 languages.... MADem Aug 2013 #6
I hope he wins gold. MADem Aug 2013 #5
How fuckin SAD is this?! Behind the Aegis Aug 2013 #7
And, it misses the fact the largest part of the problem isn't the police MNBrewer Aug 2013 #8
BINGO! Behind the Aegis Aug 2013 #9
AND... I don't give a crap what does or doesn't happen during the Olympics regarding this! MNBrewer Aug 2013 #11
The way I have been reading the laws and the politicians remarks... Behind the Aegis Aug 2013 #13
Last night I told my sister JoDog Aug 2013 #17
Then he's not prepared to be arrested. William769 Aug 2013 #10
In all honesty, that is kind of how I am reading it. Behind the Aegis Aug 2013 #12
Considering he did a reality show DonCoquixote Aug 2013 #15
What is really sad about this is DonCoquixote Aug 2013 #14
Good for him but.... SnakeEyes Aug 2013 #16

LostOne4Ever

(9,288 posts)
2. Truly a brave and talented young man
Sun Aug 11, 2013, 08:30 PM
Aug 2013

I don't know how, or in what way...but if Russia arrests a single athlete of ours I think our government should put some sort of sanction on Russia.

We should not tolerate this crap.

 

cascadiance

(19,537 posts)
3. Perhaps all athletes could ban together and say they are leaving if any athlete gets arrested...
Sun Aug 11, 2013, 08:58 PM
Aug 2013

... the moment it happens.

I know that's a big sacrifice for many athletes, but if that were to happen, it would be a big slam on Russia, and also on the Olympic committee to NEVER allow any country with laws or actions like Russia has engaged in to ever host the olympics again without a complete change of government that engaged in them.

LostOne4Ever

(9,288 posts)
4. I would support anything
Sun Aug 11, 2013, 09:08 PM
Aug 2013

That sends a message to Russia and the rest of the World that bigotry will not be tolerated!


Sadly, im not an athlete so my opinion is just that at the moment

MADem

(135,425 posts)
6. I think everyone should hold hands and scream "It's OKAY to be GAY!" in ten or 20 languages....
Sun Aug 11, 2013, 09:40 PM
Aug 2013

That's against the law, so they'd have to arrest every damn one of 'em.

MADem

(135,425 posts)
5. I hope he wins gold.
Sun Aug 11, 2013, 09:37 PM
Aug 2013

The Russians want to intimidate some of our best athletes, I think--that's why they're playing this game.

Behind the Aegis

(53,956 posts)
7. How fuckin SAD is this?!
Sun Aug 11, 2013, 09:44 PM
Aug 2013

"Gay Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir has said that he does not plan to campaign for LGBT rights or even openly kiss his Russian-born husband at the games in Sochi, but that he is prepared to be arrested by Russian authorities."

In other words, he is not going to be himself and yet so many "allies" don't seem to understand the problem!

MNBrewer

(8,462 posts)
8. And, it misses the fact the largest part of the problem isn't the police
Sun Aug 11, 2013, 09:53 PM
Aug 2013

it's the vigilantes who will beat, kidnap, torture, videotape, humiliate, murder those they perceive as homosexuals.

Behind the Aegis

(53,956 posts)
9. BINGO!
Sun Aug 11, 2013, 09:56 PM
Aug 2013

It would be nice if our so-called allies remembered this, and screeched "won't SOMEBODY think of the gays!?" But, that will never happen unless it aligns with their pet cause of the day.

MNBrewer

(8,462 posts)
11. AND... I don't give a crap what does or doesn't happen during the Olympics regarding this!
Sun Aug 11, 2013, 10:04 PM
Aug 2013

I'm more concerned about what will be happening to normal GLBT Russians who won't have international pressure on their side, especially AFTER the games are over.

Behind the Aegis

(53,956 posts)
13. The way I have been reading the laws and the politicians remarks...
Sun Aug 11, 2013, 10:08 PM
Aug 2013

...I am more and more convinced this is similar to the progroms launched against the Jews back in the day. They won't "round them up," but they will make their lives unbearable and dangerous! I see people yammering on about how bad other places are, and some are, but the reality is this country is going BACKWARDS, those others have been homophobic cesspools for decades.

ETA: Have we been given permission to discuss this?

JoDog

(1,353 posts)
17. Last night I told my sister
Tue Aug 13, 2013, 09:58 AM
Aug 2013

about this situation. Her first response was, "Can we get those poor people out of there? This is nothing more than a pogrom by another name. This stuff isn't supposed to be allowed to happen anymore. It's horrible. The Jewish ones know they can go to Israel, right?"

"I hope they do," I said.

William769

(55,146 posts)
10. Then he's not prepared to be arrested.
Sun Aug 11, 2013, 10:03 PM
Aug 2013

Sounds to me like he's going to act straight & be in the closet. Am I reading this wrong?

Behind the Aegis

(53,956 posts)
12. In all honesty, that is kind of how I am reading it.
Sun Aug 11, 2013, 10:04 PM
Aug 2013

Though, like me, satellites can tell he is gay, so I think that is where his real worry is. I find it very sad.

DonCoquixote

(13,616 posts)
15. Considering he did a reality show
Mon Aug 12, 2013, 11:26 AM
Aug 2013

that talked about his being LGBT, I doubt he will go into any closets.

DonCoquixote

(13,616 posts)
14. What is really sad about this is
Mon Aug 12, 2013, 11:25 AM
Aug 2013

Johnny was a well established "Russophile": he speaks Russian and has Russian trainers, and praised Russian culture, not surprising as he is in a sport the Russians have a lot of influence over.. Way to crap on people helping to spread the influence of your nation's culture Vlad.

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