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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHouse Members to urge Secretary of State to protect LGBT people at Olympics
from Buzzfeed:
We urge the State Department to determine the appropriate course of action to assure the safety and well being of LGBT and LGBT-supporting individuals involved in or attending the 2014 Sochi Olympics and Paralympics, the letter to be sent to Kerry says. Rep. Jerry Nadler is leading the House effort.
Nadler, a longtime House leader on LGBT issues, said the laws undermine the core values of the Olympic movement.
These dangerous and discriminatory laws defy basic human rights that should be guaranteed to everyone at all times. They also make mockery of the uniting spirit of the Olympics, which brings diverse nations together in a spirit of peaceful and friendly competition, he said. We urge Secretary of State Kerry to work quickly to promote and protect the human rights of the LGBT community in Russia and to ensure the safety of those traveling to Russia for the Olympic games.
Although the signature-gathering process is not yet complete, changes to the substance of the letter itself are not expected. Additionally, a spokesman for Nadler confirmed that among the more than 75 members already signed on are two Republicans, Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Richard Hanna. Additionally, all of the out LGBT House members Reps. Jared Polis, David Cicilline, Kyrsten Sinema, Mark Pocan, Mark Tokano and Sean Patrick Maloney are signed on to the effort.
The news about Nadlers plans follow on Thursdays announcement that Sen. Jeff Merkley will be leading an effort on a resolution seeking action from the International Olympic Committee regarding the Sochi Olympics and on Fridays announcement by Kerry that the State Department will treat same-sex married couples equally for visa purposes.
read article/read letter: http://www.buzzfeed.com/chrisgeidner/house-members-to-urge-secretary-of-state-john-kerry-to-take
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House Members to urge Secretary of State to protect LGBT people at Olympics (Original Post)
bigtree
Aug 2013
OP
bunnies
(15,859 posts)1. The letter:
Dear Secretary Kerry:
We are writing to you regarding the troubling implications of a recently-enacted Russian law criminalizing actions or statements deemed to be in support of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. In light of the fact that the 2014 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games are scheduled to be held in Sochi, Russia, we would like to know what diplomatic measures the State Department is planning to take to ensure that American LGBT athletes, staff and spectators, and their supporters, are not arrested, detained or otherwise penalized during the Sochi Games.
The law, signed by President Vladimir Putin on June 30th, will penalize any individuals or groups found to be publicly supportive of LGBT equality. Press reports have indicated that punishable offenses would include public acknowledgment of ones orientation, displays of affection between same-sex partners, statements in support of LGBT rights, and the use of symbols such as rainbows that are attributed to the LGBT community. Foreign nationals found to be in violation of the law could be arrested and detained for up to 15 days.
According to the Organizing Committee of XXII Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in Sochi, Sochi will be host to over 40,000 athletes, volunteers, and members of the press for the duration of the Games. An additional 75,000 spectators are expected to visit Sochi daily during that time. With the Olympics only seven months away, we are deeply concerned about the impact of the new anti-LGBT law on LGBT Russians, the Olympic community and supporters of LGBT equality.
We are particularly troubled because while the newly signed law is the most recent and most extreme codification of Russias maltreatment of its LGBT citizens, it is also part of larger trend of anti-LGBT actions in Russia. In the last month, the Russian government also enacted a law banning foreign same-sex couples and single people from nations that have marriage equality from adopting Russian children. Hate crimes and violent attacks against the LGBT community have been reported, including the murders of two gay men earlier this year. In 2012, Moscow instituted a hundred-year ban on LGBT pride parades, a ban that was deemed illegal by the European Court of Human Rights, but which nevertheless resulted in the arrest and detention of seventeen LGBT activists for displaying rainbow flags. Russias record of anti-LGBT legislation and persecution pose serious concerns for the safety of LGBT Sochi Olympic participants and spectators.
On July 17th, the International Olympic Committee issued a statement, obtained by the Windy City Times, acknowledging that the newly-enacted law is contradictory to its policy of non-discrimination and pledging to work to ensure that the Games can take place without discrimination against athletes, officials, spectators and the media. However, the IOC recognized that it is not equipped to address the issue fully, stating [w]ider political issues in the country are best dealt with by other international organizations more suited to this endeavor.
We applaud the State Departments commitment to ensuring that U.S. diplomacy and foreign assistance promote and protect the human rights of LGBT persons abroad, and the actions your agency has already taken to communicate concerns about the overall direction on LGBT rights in Russia directly to the Russian government. In light of the importance of U.S. leadership on LGBT issues, and the quickly-approaching Sochi Games, we urge the State Department to determine the appropriate course of action to assure the safety and well being of LGBT and LGBT supporting individuals involved in or attending the 2014 Sochi Olympics and Paralympics. We look forward to hearing from you regarding what efforts have been undertaken, especially efforts undertaken in coordination with other foreign governments, and are committed to working together with you on this issue.
Sincerely,
bigtree
(85,998 posts)2. thanks, bunnies!
Zorra
(27,670 posts)3. Good move, ethical, and probably politically and diplomatically effective at the same time.
Imagine a visible, international, multicultural UN security detail protecting LGBT persons sitting in the "gay section" from Russian persecution at the Olympics.
How bad would that make Putin and Russia look on global television?
No worse than they would deserve.
dickthegrouch
(3,175 posts)4. I call for every Olympic team member to
Kiss a same-sex person during the opening march.
Carry a rainbow flag in one hand and their nation's flag in the other.
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)5. I am straight...
but were I an Olympian I would do it.
Cha
(297,322 posts)6. This sounds crazy but it's true.. a letter needs to be sent to our SOS, John Kerry,
to make sure the safety of Gay people, who go to the Olympics in Russia, are Protected!
The news about Nadlers plans follow on Thursdays announcement that Sen. Jeff Merkley will be leading an effort on a resolution seeking action from the International Olympic Committee regarding the Sochi Olympics and on Fridays announcement by Kerry that the State Department will treat same-sex married couples equally for visa purposes.
How's that for a big freaking difference between Civil Rights/Human Rights in our country and in Russia.
As I was saying Yesterday.. the way the Russians are going after Gay people is disgusting and dangerous.
Mahalo bigtree
Scurrilous
(38,687 posts)7. K & R
LWolf
(46,179 posts)8. Glad to see my Senator stepping up. nt