Protest ghettos

The International Olympic Committee is sending a letter to each national delegation reminding athletes that "No kind of demonstration or political, religious, or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas." That means athletes better not protest Russia's anti- gay propaganda law.

Russia is throwing a bone in our direction. There will be "protest zones" where people may say anything they want without any fear of reprisals. No doubt these "protest ghettos" will be far away from Russian TV cameras -- perhaps in Siberia?

Jonathan Capehart of the Washington Post talked to two people from Russia who told him how bad it is for sexual minorities in their home country. The anti-propaganda law has given lots of people permission to discriminate and beat up gays, even though the law says nothing about that. And it looks to get worse -- there is talk of a bill to be introduced that would remove kids from gay parents. And that introduction will be the day after the Olympic Games close.

The organization Immigration Equality provides information about immigration and asylum in America. They have seen a big spike in inquiries from Russia. For a couple months inquiries from Russia have topped those from Jamaica (notoriously homophobic).

I had written that the pro-Russia side of the protests in Ukraine had a homophobic slant. Randy Potts of Box Turtle Bulletin says that message isn't getting very far. No matter how much Ukrainians hate gay people, they hate Russia more.