Official Warning for American Gays Traveling To Olympics

Official Warning for American Gays Traveling To Olympics

Russia’s controversial “homosexual propaganda” legislation, banning the promotion of “non-traditional sexual relations” among minors, is broad. It means that, among other things, teachers cannot tell their students that gay and straight relationships are equal; parents cannot tell their children being LGBT is normal, and people cannot distribute pamphlets promoting gay rights.

It is not known how the law will affect sports stars, presenters and visitors at this year’s Winter Olympics. As a precaution, the The U.S. State Department has issued a travel advisory for citizens traveling to Russia for the games next month, including a specific warning that actions that violate the bizarre law could be used to fine, deport, or jail them. The law, signed by President Vladimir Putin last summer, prohibits any public displays of affection by same-sex couples and any public events related to LGBT people.

Early talk by activists of staging protests or wearing rainbow pins or waving rainbow flags at the Olympics was met with promises by the Russian government of tough enforcement of its laws. The State Department advisory notes that foreign citizens could be fined as much as $3,100, jailed for 14 days, and deported for violating the laws.

“The law makes it a crime to promote LGBT equality in public, but lacks concrete legal definitions for key terms,” notes the advisory. “Russian authorities have indicated a broad interpretation of what constitutes ‘LGBT propaganda,’ and provided vague guidance as to which actions will be interpreted by authorities as ‘LGBT propaganda.’”

They also warn American citizens to “avoid large crowds in areas that lack enhanced security measures” and to use caution “in any areas where protests, demonstrations, or other public disturbances are taking place,” since there is word that the “brutal” laws have led to an increase in homophobic violence, arrests, and the proliferation of vigilante groups in Russia who want to hunt out LGBT people. In a new documentary, Young and Gay in Putin’s Russia, LGBT Russians come together to warn the world that they do not feel safe.

The government sanction of discrimination has emboldened anti-gay groups. Over the weekend, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church suggested the Russian people vote on whether to re-criminalize homosexuality.

Tennis legend Billie Jean King, who was chosen as part of a 10-person delegation which will represent the United States, says President Barack Obama’s decision to send 3 openly gay athletes to the Winter Olympics conveys a powerful message to Russia.

“When we step off the plane we are part of America,” King said Thursday during an appearance on NBC’s TODAY show. “We are what an America looks like. So I think President Obama has done an amazing job on promoting diversity and inclusion. He has been the all-time president for doing that. And he’s showing the Russians, ‘Listen everybody belongs in the United States of America.’”