The 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi will be remembered as the most anti-gay in the history of the modern games. And that legacy will fall squarely on the shoulders of Russian President Vladimir Putin as he simultaneously enforces an anti-gay propaganda law across the country that is ludicrous for its depth while saying with a straight face that Olympic athletes will not be discriminated against. While that may hold true for two weeks in the small resort town, all bets are off after the world spotlight is directed elsewhere, which, if you believe Mayor Anatoly Pakhomov, has no gays in it. (But it does have gay nightclubs, go figure.)
The anti-gay propaganda law seeks to make LGBTs invisible, with possible fines and jail time for those who "promote" homosexuality among minors.
The attempt to deny reality and change present-day demographics with a press statement shows the world just how backward Russian attitudes on gays are. That Putin rules with an iron fist is no secret, so it is gratifying that some world leaders, including President Barack Obama, are not playing into his hands. Obama will be skipping Sochi, along with his family and Vice President Joe Biden. Instead he is sending out sports figures Brian Boitano and Caitlin Cahow to represent the U.S. and who will, by their presence, spoil Putin's coming out party at the opening ceremonies.
As much as Putin is to blame, the International Olympic Committee is not better and has made itself a laughingstock. Just this week, with reporters and athletes arriving in Sochi, IOC President Thomas Bach ripped into foreign leaders for staying away from the games. In remarks to the Associated Press that seemed directed at Obama, but without naming any individuals, Bach said, "People have a very good understanding of what it really means to single out the Olympic Games to make an ostentatious gesture which allegedly costs nothing but produces international headlines. ... In the extreme, we had to see a few politicians whose contributions to the fight for a good cause consisted of publicly declining invitations they had not received."
Oh, really Mr. Bach? The international outcry over the anti-gay law is overshadowing the games, and it's a hopeful sign of support for LGBT activists and allies. Every time a corporate sponsor's social media campaign was disrupted by gays (see: Coca-Cola, McDonald's) more people learned about the issue, especially younger people, who by and large see discrimination against LGBTs as a loser.
If the decision to stay home by Obama and other world leaders is an insult to Putin, so be it. LGBTs in Russia risk their personal safety every day; and even before Putin signed the draconian law last summer many faced the threat of arrest and suffered police harassment.
Rather than casting blame on Obama and others, the IOC should have taken a strong stand in support of LGBT athletes and visitors to begin with, and told Putin in no uncertain terms that the law was antiquated, not needed, and should be abolished. The IOC's own Olympic Charter prohibits discrimination, yet Bach and his cronies didn't have the will or the courage to say more than "Da, Vladimir."
The IOC should have spent these last six months devising a security plan to keep LGBT athletes safe, not intimidating them into staying quiet or speaking out from the medal podium. The IOC should have welcomed the Federation of Gay Games' Pride House, a tradition at past Olympics that was welcoming of all athletes; instead, it acquiesced to Putin and prohibited the facility.
It's amazing that the IOC has proven itself to be so weak and squeamish when dealing with Putin. One of the most powerful sports organizations in the world has been reduced to groveling and ass-kissing. Bach has tried, without success, to argue that the IOC is a sports organization with limited responsibilities. That's ridiculous since the IOC has total control over the games, everything from site selection to the competitions. Its charter explicitly supports human rights and anti-discrimination, which it developed over the years showcasing young athletes pursuing their dreams and fostering good will among nations.
Now the IOC is saying that if you're an LGBT athlete, you don't count. By caving in to an anti-gay dictator like Putin, the IOC has shown the world how little it respects human rights.