What Russia Has Taught Us During the 2014 Winter Olmypics

By James Mendez

University of North Texas

Mayborn School of Journalism

As the Olympics proceed in Sochi, Russia so do the headlines. If we take a leap back in time to three weeks ago before the Olympics started we find the usual “Olympic drama” was definitely not going to miss out on the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Via English Club

If you have been living under a rock, or in your parent’s basement, for the last 6 months, let me update you on what I am talking about.

Back in June of 2013 the Russian Parliament passed a bill that was, and remains to be, one of the most anti-gay pieces of legislation ever passed.

The bill, that was passed on June 30, 2013, bans the, "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations to minors," according to Polymic.com.

The bill also bans gay pride parades, imposes fines to gay right activists and also denies registration to gays looking to join nongovernmental organizations.

When I first saw the following headline, I definitely had to take a second look to make sure what I was reading was actually there. I could not believe that in today’s world, a government would come out and blatantly discriminate against the homosexual community.

Via Huffington Post

Now I will admit that I am personally not a huge supporter of gay rights, however I do believe that all people were created equal, and therefore, should be treated equally.

With that being said, I totally disagree with the Russian Parliaments decision. From a PR perspective I feel like they sunk their own ship. Russia almost immediately felt the backlash from not only Europe but from Barrack Obama Himself.

And while I do not usually agree with anything President Obama says, I do have to agree with him on this one.

Russia made a terrible decision, and to make it worse made that decision when their country was in one of the grandest spotlights, the Winter Olympics.

Since this unraveling, Russia has tried to make things right with the homosexual community, yet, has failed again.

As I mentioned in my last post, we live in a multicultural, multilingual, gay/straight world, and in my opinion, the best option we have is to accept it.