“I have taken the personal step of not attending the Athletics Championships as I did not feel that the Russian State could assure me of my safety.”
With several months to go before the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, the contrast between LGBT representation during past ceremonies couldn't be more striking. Vancouver, which hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics, was also the first host city to have an official Pride House. There will be no Pride House in Sochi and the safety of LGBT Olympians and fans is, at best, uncertain. BuzzFeed spoke to six LGBT torchbearers from past Olympic ceremonies about their thoughts on Russia's anti-gay law, calls for and against a boycott and why LGBT rights are human rights.
Jae C. Hong / AP
Danielle Peers -- Vancouver 2010
I believe that we can try to leverage the Olympics to increase the global recognition of, and perhaps local response to, Russia’s engagement with LGBTQ communities.The danger is that we will overly romanticize the Olympics in our political rhetoric. We need to recognize how the IOC and the Olympic hosting committees are often significant contributors to social and economic injustice and to the corporate and state infringement on human rights and civil liberties. I, of course, believe that it is crucial that queer Olympic and Paralympic athletes’ safety is considered, but I think that our political priority has to be with those who have far less privilege and protection in this situation. It is critical to focus on the rights, freedoms and opportunities of Russian LGBTQ folks. It is equally important to recognize all the other marginalized people in Russia and beyond whose most basic capacity to live safely is threatened by the policies and strategies of their governments, and of multinational corporate entities like the International Olympic Committee.
Michael Holly
Jason Saw -- London 2012
For me and for many other LGBT people, I believe that having an Out LGBT person chosen to represent the community and to celebrate the Olympics was recognition of the progress made in our fight for equality. I also felt that it was a confident and clear message to the rest of the world that the UK aims to be a progressive Nation when it comes to LGBT rights, especially to those countries taking part who have oppressive regimes and laws directed at LGBT people.
Russia, who are to host the next Olympic Games, had decriminalized homosexuality in the 1990’s, therefore I am shocked and angered by the Russian parliament’s recent passing of anti-gay legislation which criminalizes LGBT freedom of expression. The new Russian anti-gay legislation is one of the most draconian laws anywhere in the world and violates LGBT Human Rights and I am in disbelief that the Olympics are still to be held in Sochi 2014.
nationaldiversityawards.co.uk / Via Jason Saw
Angus Praught -- Vancouver 2010
Having had the honour of being a torchbearer in Vancouver’s 2010 Winter Olympics Torch Relay and participating in the first-ever Pride House at an Olympics, it was very disturbing to hear of the anti-gay legislation which was recently passed into law in Russia. As we saw in Vancouver in 2010, it was important and powerful to have LGBT Olympians compete and celebrate openly at this all-inclusive international sporting event highlighting human achievement. It is my hope that the IOC, corporate sponsors, official media and world leaders, among others, will speak out strongly against this law, which is unfitting for a nation about to host the Winter Olympic Games and that LGBT Olympians will compete and stand proudly once again.
Angus Praught
