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An Olympic boycott: should LGBT rights trump the winter games?
Philly.com ^ | Wednesday, February 5, 2014, 10:58 AM | Natalie Hope McDonald

Posted on 02/05/2014 9:17:59 AM PST by Phillyred

When the Sochi Olympics begin later this week, it will provide an international platform for what promises to be both a controversial and politically charged conversation, but one having very little to do with the actual sports being played. Athletes may have tirelessly trained. Countries may have vigorously vied to host the games. And all eyes may be on Russia as the opening ceremony unfolds on Thursday, but the Achilles heel to these games isn’t whether or not the U.S. will be tough enough to take home the gold this year, but how LGBT rights will fare in a country that has been anything but gay-friendly.

As much as we may like to embrace the notion of good sportsmanship even in the most tumultuous of times, truth is Russia’s crackdown on gay people (everything from same-sex partnerships to adoption, though technically it’s not “illegal” to be openly gay there) has already set off a firestorm of protests that are not expected to go away anytime soon, especially as the world’s gaze is set on Sochi.

(Excerpt) Read more at philly.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
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1 posted on 02/05/2014 9:17:59 AM PST by Phillyred
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To: Phillyred

What are gay rights? How do they wish to define “gay-friendly”?


2 posted on 02/05/2014 9:20:20 AM PST by NEMDF
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To: Phillyred

No. It would make me embarrassed to be an American if we boycotted the games on behalf of the LGBT crowd.


3 posted on 02/05/2014 9:20:22 AM PST by Pearls Before Swine
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To: Phillyred

No such thing as special rights for homosexuals.


4 posted on 02/05/2014 9:20:39 AM PST by Viennacon
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To: Phillyred

Should we let the fact that some people do not approve of perverted sex habits to stop anyone else from playing sports?

um.. no.


5 posted on 02/05/2014 9:21:16 AM PST by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans!)
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To: Pearls Before Swine

Well, you’re already going to be embarrassed. I mean, we have Butch Napolitano as emissary! We might as well have sent Rachel Maddow and Michael Moore.


6 posted on 02/05/2014 9:21:27 AM PST by Viennacon
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To: Phillyred

About the only potential ‘downside’ stemming from the anti-gay policies surrounding the Sochi Games is the possible cancellation of Men’s figure skating. Oh wait! Maybe we’ll actually get to see some ice hockey!


7 posted on 02/05/2014 9:22:04 AM PST by Tallguy
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To: Phillyred

The only right LGBt has is the right to get aids and croak!


8 posted on 02/05/2014 9:23:37 AM PST by dalereed
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To: Phillyred

No. They are a minority and IMHO, the minority should NOT be telling the world’s MAJORITY what to do or believe.


9 posted on 02/05/2014 9:28:59 AM PST by madison10
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To: NEMDF
Clinton and Obama says gay rights are human rights...

An American Expat in Southeast Asia

10 posted on 02/05/2014 9:32:31 AM PST by expatguy (Donate to "An American Expat in SE Asia" By Paypal)
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To: Phillyred
I would not boycott the Games for LGBT rights.

I would boycott the games if they accepted the twisted LGBT agenda.

11 posted on 02/05/2014 9:36:36 AM PST by skeeter
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To: Phillyred

It’s a sad day for me that I find myself opposing virtually every stance my country takes internationally.

But I’m still proud of what America once was...


12 posted on 02/05/2014 9:39:16 AM PST by ScottinVA (Obama is so far in over his head, even his ears are beneath the water level.)
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To: Phillyred
I had observed the venerable and taxpayer supported Canadian Broadcasting Company coverage on the Winter Games preview. Ok, so they did a good job and seemed to spare the Russians too much criticism re preparedness.

Then (wouldn't you know it) came a whole segment on the homosexual "community". There they were- athletes past and present working themselves up to a high pitch. One had won a gold medal in swimming and now at 45 years was holding forth. They were travelling to Russia in a definable group.

To sum it all up, they do have a problem. After all the bilge about finally being able to "accept myself" and getting on with life, it is a sad fact.

They think society- any society, should be all about them!.

13 posted on 02/05/2014 9:39:19 AM PST by Peter Libra
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To: Pearls Before Swine

“No. It would make me embarrassed to be an American if we boycotted the games on behalf of the LGBT crowd.”

If you’re not already embarrassed by Obama’s Amerika you have a high tolerance. I can’t bear to listen to any of our government officials talk. I’ll probably keep my ears plugged until 2014 and sing, “La la la la...”


14 posted on 02/05/2014 9:46:20 AM PST by Gen.Blather
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To: Pearls Before Swine
It would make me embarrassed to be an American if we boycotted the games on behalf of the LGBT crowd.

Precisely why obammy would want to do that.

15 posted on 02/05/2014 9:48:40 AM PST by pfflier
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To: Phillyred

Once upon a time we boycotted the games because the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Now it’s because some fruits have the vapors? Pathetic.


16 posted on 02/05/2014 9:53:59 AM PST by mikey_hates_everything
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To: pfflier

The United States has no right to keep our athletes from going. There are no tax dollars used on them.


17 posted on 02/05/2014 9:55:11 AM PST by massgopguy (I owe everything to George Bailey)
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To: Phillyred

If the gay athletes want to boycott by not attending, more power to them. I’m not gay and I’m not boycotting the Olympics.


18 posted on 02/05/2014 9:58:12 AM PST by FrdmLvr ("WE ARE ALL OSAMA, 0BAMA!" al-Qaeda terrorists who breached the American compound in Benghazi)
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To: Phillyred

No, but I won’t watch the Russian Games. Guess I remember the Cold War too vividly. Hell, I remember the Cuban Missile Crisis.


19 posted on 02/05/2014 10:04:34 AM PST by RIghtwardHo
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To: Gen.Blather
If you’re not already embarrassed by Obama’s Amerika you have a high tolerance.

Oh, I'm embarrassed all right. But, when I travel, a lot of people don't realize how bad it's gotten in the US, so I don't have to be a permanently embarrassed tourist. They have lagging info... our fall in civil liberties hasn't gotten through the legend that was the United States yet, and besides, most other places are pretty screwed up politically, too.

But, if we did an LGBT motivated snub of the Olympics, it would be pretty apparent what our government has become.

20 posted on 02/05/2014 10:07:04 AM PST by Pearls Before Swine
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