In the latest news from Russia, there’s an assertion its anti-gay law will be enforced at the Sochi Winter Olympics, prompting a stern warning from the IOC. A Russian TV host says gay people’s hearts should be burned rather than donated when they die, meanwhile protestors get increasingly clever. Laws will be enforced at Sochi After endless back and forth, and assertions to the International Olympic Committee otherwise, Russia’s Interior Ministry has confirmed its anti-gay law will be enforced during the Sochi 2014 Olympics, from 7-23 February. The Interior Ministry controls the police force. The law bans "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations" and imposes fines on those holding gay pride rallies. "The law enforcement agencies can have no qualms with people who harbour a non-traditional sexual orientation and do not commit such acts [to promote homosexuality to minors], do not conduct any kind of provocation and take part in the Olympics peacefully," a new Interior Ministry statement reads. It also claimed this was not discrimination against gay people. "Any discussion on violating the rights of representatives of non-traditional sexual orientations, stopping them from taking part in the Olympic Games or discrimination of athletes and guests of the Olympics according to their sexual orientation is totally unfounded and contrived.” The head of Russia's National Olympic Committee Alexander Zhukov has stated this means, in the face of the vague promotion of homosexuality to minors law: "If a person does not put across his views in the presence of children, no measures against him can be taken," Zhukov said. "People of nontraditional sexual orientations can take part in the competitions and all other events at the Games unhindered, without any fear for their safety whatsoever." IOC warns “we are not joking” C.K. Wu As a result of the declaration, the International Olympic Committee is “cross” with Russia, insisting that there must be no restrictions on athletes in Sochi next year. The IOC asked Russia last week to provide written re-assurances about how the law will be applied. C.K. Wu, an IOC executive board member, has told AAP the Russians must "fully understand" that the human rights of athletes, as enshrined in the Olympic charter, have to be respected during Olympics. "We want to know during the games what will happen in different situations," Wu told reporters in London. "'What are you (Russia) going to do?' So we are waiting for them to really respond." Asked if the games could be taken away from Sochi if the Russian response does not satisfy the IOC, the Taiwanese official said: "The Russian authorities, they know how serious ... the IOC (is). We are not joking." Gay advocates are calling for the Games to be moved or boycotted. Gay hearts should be “burned” The anchor of Russia’s leading news show Dmitri Kisilev has called on state-controlled Russian television for gays to be forbidden from donating sperm or blood. He then suggested that if a gay person were to die an a car accident, their heart should be buried, or even better, burned: “I think that just imposing fines on gays for homosexual propaganda among teenagers is not enough. They should be banned from donating blood, sperm. And their hearts, in case of the automobile accident, should be buried in the ground or burned as unsuitable for the continuation of life,” he said. Protests get increasingly colourful Protests are being held across the globe, and in Stockholm, GLBTI rights activists are believed to have repainted a crossing in rainbow colours outside the Russian embassy. No one has claimed credit for the colourful protest yet. Australian advocates have also drawn chalk rainbows and raised a gay pride flag outside the Russian embassy in Sydney.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 13th August 2013 - 9:19am