Russia and IOC say don’t be openly gay at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics

Read for instance this blog on Slate

On Monday, the Russian Interior Ministry confirmed what other Russian officials have been saying for weeks: Openly gay people attending the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, including athletes, will be arrested under the country’s draconian new anti-gay law. That law, you might recall, prohibits “homosexual propaganda” and is designed to discourage any kind of support for gay rights or even gay people.

The International Olympic Committee’s response to gay people? We mean it: Stay in the closet.

According to an IOC spokesperson, the Olympics aren’t the place for “proactive political or religious demonstration,” anyway. Just read the fine print: Rule 50 of the Olympic charter declares that “no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.” By the IOC’s logic, gay people should be keeping quiet about their sexuality no matter what, in accordance with Rule 50. If they speak out and get arrested under Russian law—well, it’s not the IOC’s fault that they just couldn’t keep their mouths shut.

The British Athletes Commission expresses concern for athletes aiming for Sochi 2014.

Stephen Fry has a ‘brainchild’, but I guess you could be arrested for that

George Takei has an idea also

Perhaps the US team should enter the stadium doing the YMCA. http://t.co/Nqeg4Y5JDb

— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) August 14, 2013