Controversy On Sochi Winter Olympics

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English 102
Spring 2014

At the Olympics athletes from all over the world to compete in sports and to unite everyone in watching an event, but this Olympics has a twist to it. Controversy on LGBT rights exploded prior to this year's Sochi Winter Olympics has a twist to it. LGBT refers to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Before the Olympics started, debates already began to form. Russia's laws degrade LGBT rights and opened a human rights debate. These laws sparked many LGBT communities to protest against them. This occurrence didn't just happen in America, but globally. There are many reports of the LGBT communities protesting against these anti-gay laws. According to the AP, “a coalition of 40 human-rights and gay-rights
groups from the U.S., Western Europe and Russia – including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the Human Rights Campaign – released an open letter to the 10 biggest Olympic sponsors, urging them to denounce the law and run ads promoting equality for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people” (Crary) From the report, it seems that there has been lots of groups against Russia's anti-gay law, but will it be enough? Russia doesn't allow much freedom to the people to begin with. The government has forcefully taken control of the country. Some of the sponsors were trying to repel the anti-gay laws, but only managed to have Russia stop discrimination toward athletes and spectators, who are at the Olympics. The only reason why they stop discrimination toward the LGBT is because some athletes and spectators support the LGBT. Russia's government doesn't want to change their laws for Russians, but is willing to make some exceptions toward foreigners. Despite the help internationally, Russia continues with their anti-gay laws and also plans to add more laws. This years Olympics has two main politicians debating on the LGBT laws: Russia's Presidents
Putin and the United States pf America's President Obama. Putin has expanded anti-gay laws by
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banning “pro-gay propaganda.” According to Article 6.13.1, in the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Offenses, “ Propaganda of homosexualism among minors- is punishable by administrative fine for citizens in the amount of four thousand to five thousand rubles, for officials-forty thousand to fifty thousand; for legal entities – four hundred thousand to five hundred thousand rubles,” (Code of the Russian). While Obama on the other hand argues that these anti-gay laws are denying a human of their civil rights. Obama said on August 6, 2013 in the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, “ I have no patience for countries that try to treat gays or lesbians or transgender persons in ways that intimidate them or are harmful to them.”(Obama) Obama believes Russia has refused to give LGBT people their human rights. They are not treated as humans beings, but rather a different species. This political debate has affected many countries that are still undecided on what laws they should enforce with the LGBT communities in their own country. This research paper first focuses on Russia. It includes their anti-gay laws, how long has Russians had this view, and why do they have this particular view. I am interested in the different reactions Russia will present when it comes to the LGBT community. Then the paper will focus on the international response to the anti-gay laws. This paper will also examine different reactions between the community and the Olympic athletes. Next it focuses on how is America getting involved, America's laws on the LGBT communities. Lastly, it will focus on how it might affect other countries, like China. The main question is how is homophobia is different or similar in Russia, the U.S, and China? Before I start trying to find an answer to my central research question, I would like to look at Russia's laws about the LGBT. I decided to look at Russia first because it is the host country for this year's Winter Olympics and it has also sprung up the debate of the LGBT community. Russia is known globally to be anti-gay and its laws are very strict when it comes to any supporters of the LGBT community. Russia is very homophobic. Mark Ungar, a professor of political science at Brooklyn
College, defines homophobia as, “deeply ingrained in both society and the state, which often regard
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LGBT people as a health hazard, a threat to public morality, and a cultural imposition from decadent Western society,” (Ungar). Because Russia is homophobic it is enacted many laws against them and has given the LGBT a negative predisposition. The Russian government will not allow any public LGBT activities and doesn't want to idealize of the LBGT to be spread in a positive manner. An example from Lester Munson, a legal analyst from ESPN, clarifying the situation in Russia states, “A pro-gay statement on television would violate the law against discussion of LGBT issues in front of minors, and the wearing of any pro-gay pins or paraphernalia could result in arrest, incarceration for 14 days and a fine of as much as $3,100.” Munson speaks to Russia's desire to stop the spread of LBT knowledge to the country. It doesn't matter if it is in front of minors directly, it is a symbol of rebellion against the government. As long as any LGBT advertisement exists, it will be a threat to the government because the government is indirectly stating their hatred for the LGBT communities. The current president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, is increasing the anti-gay laws which worries the Olympic fans and athletes. Russia also promises there will be more anti-gay laws after President Putin. Dr. Jay Michaelson, a teacher at colleges like Yale and LGBT supporter, predicts Russia will only continue to heighten their anti-gay stance. Dr. Michaelson states, “Inside of Russia, the consensus is that as soon as the Olympic torch goes out, enforcement of the so-called “anti propaganda law” and the state-sanctioned violence that accompanies it will increase. New laws, such as the proposal to tear children away from same-sex families, will likely be passed. (Michaelson) Dr. Michaelson describes what is at stake for the LGBT communities in Russia. They aren't allowed to have a family and will further be discriminated against. If a person does come out being openly LGBT, he/she is giving up their rights. It is the right of opportunities that are available to others, but not to the them. To me, it seems like eradication of a single group through the laws. They ignore, persecute, and try however possible to stop them from growing larger. Russia is worried about any children, who know what
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LGBT is because most adults view LGBT relationships as a disorder/condition of confusion and wouldn't want the LGBT to stand as anything else. The reason why Russia promotes there laws is because they want to set themselves apart from Westernization. In the Guardian, a British daily newspaper, explains the reason why the anti-propaganda law was approved saying, “The ban on (propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations) is part of an effort to promote traditional Russian values over western liberalism, which the Kremlin and the Russian orthodox church see as corrupting Russian youth and contributing to the protest against Putin's rule,” (Russia Passes). The law that has been recently passed is the “propaganda law” that is explained in the Washington Post: “Russia passed a law last year prohibiting (propaganda of nontraditional sexual practices) among minors. The law has been used to an gay rights parades children might see them – and to curb discussion of gay issues on television and in newspaper for fear that those younger that 18 might hear or read about homosexuality. Teachers ignore the subject and isolate gay teenagers. Some homophobes have interpreted the law as encouragement to beat up gays. (Lally) This was the law before the idea of separating a child from their LGBT families. “Russia allows bother married couples and singles to adopt, thereby opening the door for, at the very least, LGBT persons to adopt as individuals from Russia......However, Russian law does not recognize same-sex marriages, so it is unlikely that same-sex married couples would be permitted to adopt from Russia,”(Mertus). Mertus tells more in the article that there is no definition of marriage is provided by the Russian government. So why is it not allowed for LGBT people to marry? What evidence does Russia have against children being raised by an LGBT couple? I don't think they have any proof against the LGBT people, they are just prejudice. Since they have no evidence, the LGBT in Russia has a reason to prove them wrong. Ever since Sochi Olympics Russian LGBT supporters have risen their activity and is now going globally. The LGBT communities in Russia is trying to hold on and still have try fighting for their rights, but it is hard because of the anti-gay communities only grow stronger. USA Today, a newspaper,
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interviews Dmitry Svelt, a coordinator with the Rainbow Association, about the situation in Russia.
He says, “Homophobic groups have grown larger in size, stronger, and they feel they have the support of the government.” (Stanglin) Russians have become more hostile toward the LGBT communities and the LGBT communities don't even stand a chance in protecting themselves. USA Today gives us an example, “In some cases attackers have grabbed a gay man off the street and taken him to an apartment where they would beat him and curse him as a pedophile, then post a videotape of the incident online as further humiliation,” (Stanglin). From the quote I realized the problem isn't in the politics, but it is a social problem. The attacks won't stop even if laws were to improve for them. The situation in Russia is similar to America's history with black vs. whites. Where did these views come from to make it a social
issue? Russia's history has contributed to the hostile view of the LGBT and has not changed a lot since then. At first homosexuals were seen as criminals, but are “supposedly” not anymore. “Following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia liberalized some of its anti-LGBT laws. Most notably, homosexual relations were decriminalized in 1993........Despite these liberalization trends during the immediate post-Soviet period, in recent years, Russian authorities have routinely denied permits for Pride parades, intimidated and arrested LGBT activists and condoned anti-LGBT statements by government official,” (The Facts on LGBT) The article is an example how deep Russia's history is intertwined with the people. Russia started to become a little bit more excepting of the LGBT community, but it is the people who eventually take action against them. Even if there are rights for LGBT communities, nothing will change until the public accepts them. The view of the LGBT community being immoral starts with Peter the Great. Peter the Great is believed to be the fist ruler of Russia to create the anti-gay laws and the laws ere very severe to any person believed to be gay. For example, he reformed the military by making it a crime to be a homosexual in the military. “Peter the Great outlawed homosexuality in the army during the 1700's. For
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Peter, this was an essential step in ridding Russia of its international reputation as a weak, corrupt nation. By preying on accepted European sentiments of the time (i.e.) that homosexuality was unnatural, pathetic and immoral), he could convey an image of unbending strength and virtue within armed forces,” (The) politics of Homosexuality). In 1832 another law was passed that further criminalize homosexuals. “By 1832, the criminal code was introduced (Article 995) that defined being gay as a criminal act punishable by exile to Siberia for up to five years,” (Hodzic) It seems to me, that Russia has defines LGBT people the same as criminals. The very mindset of being LGBT is understood by most Russians as immoral and not a natural state of humanity. This view of the LGBT was not accepted by all Russians though. With the help of Mikhail Gorbachev, Russia would receive freedoms they never had Gorbachev is a former Soviet statesman. He helped the the LGBT and helped the community to slowly accept the LGBT. “Under Gorbachev's policies of perestrokia and gasnost, the first Gay & Lesbian Alliance was formed in Moscow. And in 1993, Stalin's Articles 121 was finally revoked, decriminalizing homosexual acts. During this time attitudes toward the homosexual community were improving as well, (Hodzic). Of course this didn't last forever. Russia has gotten stricter with their anti-gay laws. Russia says they are only trying to protect the children, so they won't become like the, “so called” disease of homosexuality. Putin said in PolicyMic, “We have no ban on the non-traditional forms of sexual intercourse among people. We have the ban on the propaganda of homosexuality and pedophilia. I want to stress this: propaganda among minors. These are two absolutely different things: a ban on certain relations or the propaganda of such relations, (Barasch). Putin doesn't even make sense, because even if they don't ban non-traditional forms of sexual intercourse, he has labeled them negatively. Some people would interpret his words differently, like a hidden message. “He's trying to say this law is only directed at protecting minors and it doesn't have affect on LGBT people’s lives, but that's just not the case,” said Nikolai Alexeyev, the founder of
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the Gay Russia rights group and one of the handful of people to be brought to court under the new law, (Barasch). Could Putin's words have a hidden meaning and does he use “protecting minors” as an excuse for a hidden purpose? Another view that people have is President Putin confusing the LGBT community with pedophiles: “The Russian anti-LGBT culture is particularly alarming to athletes and activists because Russia's laws and policies equate homosexuality with pedophilia, a position that comes as a complete surprise to Americans and other whose cultures and laws have moved toward increasing acceptance of gays and lesbians, their lifestyles and their rights to marriage and other benefits,” (Munson). If Russia does equate homosexuals as pedophiles, they are labeling LGBT communities similarly to criminals and present to the public how little education/research Russia has done on the LGBT. How much of Russia's government views influenced the public judgment on the LGBT? The government's support for anti-gay laws has given the Russian community another reason to exclude/assault LGBT people.
An example of this is from an ESPN report, “......physicians and other medical professionals frequently refuse to treat gays and lesbians, according to the DRL report,” (Munson). Not only the health system, but also attorneys are siding with the ant-gay laws. They refuse to help any LGBT community member and will probably excuse everything that an LGBT would say. Dmitry Bartenev, an attorney and law professor in St. Petersburg warns all LGBT communities that their lives won't get any easier because of President Putin's view about LGBT. Munson states, “Russian courts at all levels have supported anti-gay laws and prohibitions and would provide no refuge for anyone who is arrested.(The Constitutional Court [Russia's highest tribunal] has rejected all attacks on these laws and is not concerned with any suppression of gay rights,” (Munson) Munson depicts that the LGBT is not only being picked on in the streets, but are also being limited by highter ranking jobs and prevents LGBT people from protecting themselves in court. The opportunities to rise up in society
is impossible by any open LGBT person and the judge will not side with the LGBT community, which
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initializes, which fear of being found out. The Russian government has influenced many to believe it is acceptable to treat LGBT members unfairly and doesn't penalize the mistreatment. The law is on the side of the conservaties, to the point that the public thinks they have the right to beat up an LGBT person. The chair of Moscow's Triangular group, an umbrella LGBT organization, reports: “homosexuals are a prime target for continuous attacks, killings, theft, blackmail, and extortion, because they are still more afraid of the police than they are of bandits” (Ungar) Laws should protect the people from harm, but with all the negative notions of the LGBT by the community and in the law violence is allowed/excused from punishment. “In February, 1998, Moscow police raided the city's main gay club, where they beat patrons and threatened to take them into the woods and (shoot all you faggots) (Ungar). There are also many reports currently of harassment and physical violence in Russia. Tanya Cooper, a researcher in Russia that is part of the Human Rights Watch “The Russian authorities have the power to protect the rights of LGBT people, but instead they are ignore their responsibility to do so. By turning a blind eye to hateful homophobic rhetoric and violence, Russian authorities are sending a dangerous message as the world is about to arrive on its doorstep for the Olympics that there is nothing wrong with attacks on gay people.” (Russia:Sochi) It seems that Russia is becoming more independent on its own because it doesn't welcome LGBT people. Countries can't help the people within Russia because of the laws opposing them. With the power that politicians have, every anti-gay law they pass is another reason why the more the LGBT communities in Russia should be afraid. Next I would like to look at America's view of the situation. President Obama disagrees completely with these laws and wasn't fooled by Putin's explaination why it is wrong to spead LGBT news. Obama also said this on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, “I think Putin and Russia have a big stake in making sure the Olympics work, and I think they understand that for most of the countries that participate in the Olympics, we wouldn't tolerate gays and lesbians being treated differently. They're
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athletes,they're there to compete. And if Russia wants to uphold the Olympic spirit, then every judgment should be made on the track, or in the swimming pool, or on the balance beam, and people's sexual orientation shouldn't have anything to do with it.” (Obama) Obama isn't just speaking to Russia, but globally. He also protested that he will not go to the games and other counties that were pro-gay would stay away from the Olympics, while they are in Russia. Instead of going, Obama decided to hand pick people who will be part of a delegation. Other countries have decided other ways to show their opposition. “The law has provoked deep concern in the United States and other Western countries, where it is seen as an infringement on human rights. European leaders have decided to stay away from the games, and President Obama sent protest message by choosing a delegation to represent him...”(Lally). The delegation Obama chose did have LGBT members. I noticed that he said it was only a concern to Western countries. It seems that only the Western countries promote the LGBT in a positive manner and not other countries. The laws in Russia don't necessarily pretain to any international people/athletes, who are just there to enjoy the game. All the government is asking for is to be very careful about the subject of the LGBT. The Russian Sport Minister, Vitaly Mutko told R-Sport, “No one is forbidding an athlete with non-traditional sexual orientation from coming to Sochi, but if he goes onto the street and starts propagandizing it, then of course he will be held accountable,” (Barasch). Baracsch points out only foreign LGBT people are allowed to participate in the Olympics. Not one Russian athlete was considered a part of the LGBT community. Obama might be pro-gay and lectures how he feels, but is it enough to change Russia? Obama has struggled his wishes in America. Clearly Obama is opposed to Russia's anti-gay laws, but what about the rest of America's reaction to the Sochi Olympics. America has already changed their laws on the LGBT, but not all the states agree to promote LGBT rights. The proof of the states having similar views can be found in many articles like the Washington Post, “Eight U.S. States, and several cities and countries, have some version of what we call “no promo homo” provisions. Before the United States condemns the Russian
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statute's infringement of free speech and academic freedom, it should recognize that our own republican forms of government has repeatedly given rise to analogous restrictions,” (Ayres) “No promo hom” is another phrase for not allowing homosexuality to be promoted. For example some schools teach homosexuality is not an acceptable lifestyle. The definition of homosexuality still has a negative notation in some states. Even though President Obama has been trying to fight for more rights for the LGBT, there has been controversy between the states. It seems that President Obama is trying to change everything that is anti-gay, but is focusing more on the international events, instead of the domestic problems. Some of the views of the LGBT in Russia also pertain to America. “It is Utah that prohibits (the advocacy of homosexuality.) Arizona prohibits portrayls of homosexuality as a (positive alternative life-style) and has legislatively determined that is is inappropriate to even suggest to children that there are (safe methods of homosexual sex.) Alabama and Texas mandate that sex-education classes emphasize that homosexuality is (not a lifestyle acceptable to the general public) Moreover, Alabama and Texas statutes mandate that children be taught that (homosexual conduct is a criminal offense) even though criminalizing private consensual homosexual conduct has been unconstitutional since 2003. (Ayres) Of course there is more violence in Russia than the U.S against the LGBT communities, but should Obama first take care of his country first then move globally? The ideas that come from Amercia have been called a part of westernization, but will it be a success like other eastern countries like China? China is one of the countries that participated in the Sochi Olympics, what is their view on Sochi? They are closer to Russia than we are, but America has a huge impact on China. China does have gay bars and an LGBT community, but it isn't seen in a positive light. Most of the families in China want a heterosexual relationship and there is a lot of pressure on an LGBT individual to come out. A gay man in China, Zhang Xiaobai, shared the hardships he had to face when he came out to his family. “Zhang's wife divorced him without any hesitation, and won full custody of their son. Relatives
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scolded him, calling him irresponsible.......Zhang's parents are still in a cold war with him. His mother won't even speak to him. The only thing he worries about is whether or not his son will suffer from being laughed at when his friends find out that his father is gay.” (The Cost and Benefit) Even though China doesn't prohibit homosexuality, the consequences of being found out is harsh. He lost everything being with the person he loves. Families like Zhang's will go to extreme lenghs to show being a LGBT person is dishonoring them. Not all of China disapproves of LGBT. The city accepts gays, but the rural places think differently. In the newspaper, The Economist, “The country declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder in 2001. Today urban centers harbor vibrant gay scenes and even hold cautious gay-pride festivals. There are over 100 support groups around the country. But the idea that homosexuality is a curable disease prevails in rural areas and among the older generation,” (“Cure” for Homosexuality). Because of this view, a lot of LGBT people seek out a cure and spend a fortune doing so. It is not rare for an LGBT person in a heterosexual relationship take counseling. “Zhang Beichuan of Qingdau University, in east-central china, reckons that four-fifths of young gay men in China end up marrying women. Those in such predicaments are drawn to clinics which offer counseling to gay people and service including what is often touted as a “cure,” (“Cures” for Homosexuality). The chances that the men will cheat on their wife is inevitable because they didn't marry out of love, most likely out of peer pressure from parents and society. This will create a huge social problem later on. The view of homosexuality of being a disease is not uncommon. Similar views are seen in Russia, Georgy Vasilchenko, a Russian neuropatholist, is the first to write a Soviet handbook on sexopathology. He claims homosexuality is a disease. “In all Soviet books on sexopathology, homosexuality was described as a pernicious (sexual perversion) a disease that must be treated,” (West). There is evidence in China that people perform therapy to change a person into a heterosexual, even though homosexuality was removed from being a disease in 2001. Dr. Chen Yanfang, the vice
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president of China's psychiatric association said, “Beijing, March 7 – China's psychiatric association is removing homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses in a new diagnostic manual due out this year. Today the 8,000 member association has concluded that homosexuality is not a perversion” (Homosexuality not an Illness). From the evidence, it seems that in both China and Russia did/ still define homosexuality as a disease, but how is it compared to the U.S.? Compared to Russia, China is more tolerate toward LGBT relationships. They do allow LGBT relationships, but will not let them be very open about it. A similarity between the U.S. And China LGBT communities is they are trying to persuade the government to allow marriage, while in Russia it has become a human rights controversy. Both China and the U.S. has improved their view toward the LGBT more positively. Though China does allow LGBT relationships, they don't want to express it on the media. Instead of using the word “homosexuals,” they use the word “tongzhi,” which means comrad. “(Tongzhi) servers as a substitute for (tongxinglian), the formal Chines term for homosexuals. The substitution removes the sexual connotation included in (tongxinglian), which literally translates as (same sex love), and therefore helps homosexuals avoid some social stigma, as sexual topics remain a taboo in mainstream society,” (Ruoyao) The substitution of the word “homosexuals” shows that China doesn't truly except gays. From the info China is somewhere in the middle of Russia's and America's view. From all the research, I can't fully answer if it will have a positive impact on the LGBT internationally, but I can conclude that Russia doesn't want to stop their anti-gay laws. There is a slim chance for Russia to change their view on the LGBT because of their history discrimination against them. It started with Peter the Great and continued to get stricter with Vladimir Putin. The laws are leaving all the LGBT communities to defend themselves on their own because the law is not on their side. Russians torment the LGBT communities because they feel the law is supporting them. This has become a public concern through the Sochi Olympics. It has been a real concern with Obama stating
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Russia abused their power and has not given human rights to the LGBT. Even though America is a huge sponsor for LGBT rights, there is a disagreement throughout the states. The reaction to the LGBT communities in America isn't that discouraging as Russia's. America has been more active fighting for rights and the law does allow them to, unlike Russia. Though the media has spread internationally some countries do not car about the LGBT communities in Russia, but have been affected by Westernization. Russia has being trying to prevent Westernization from spreading to them. Both China and Russia are simialr in their view of the LGBT by thinking it is a disease or some disorder. Many Chinese have tried looking for a cure for being a LGBT person, but it usually concludes to some torture or an unpleasant experience. Even though all countries had the same ideals, some countries have changed. The question is what is going to happen to the LGBT community in Russia?