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Jul 22, 2013 at 11:36 am
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800 Maynard Ave S, Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98134
800 Maynard Ave S, Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98134
Seattleblues should move his fake vacation home from Italy to Russia, where his brand of facism would fit right in!
That consulate is a weird place, by the way. Everyone there is a chain smoker, and the fashions and hairdos date back to the 70's - and not in a good way. And there's always a few Soviet-esque misery cases moping in the main lobby.
On the other hand, I'm totally up for protesting in front of the Russian consulate. Just say when and where, and I'm in.
Whether or not nations officially boycott, everyone should say no. I won't watch it, I won't discuss it, and when the time comes I'll think about boycotting the advertisers as well.
The real boycott win, of course, has to be the IOC. They need to take a stand, and tell Russia they will pull the games if they do not reverse the policy, reverse the law.
While you are boycotting Russian vodka, which is easy because I don't drink vodka, also think about Kaspersky, the third-largest internet security software company, and the Livejournal blogging platform. There are probably others. It's going to be harder for Europeans, many of whom are beholden to Russian gas.
I wonder if Obama will have the courage to similarly react? Or will he let this homophobic blatancy slide if Putin returns Snowden to the US for our own 'we-know-what's-best' brand of rough justice.
There's a very nice plaza there for milling about, the one where the May Day folks kicked in the Court of Appeals window that time, and the FBI locked up those unrelated folks who refused to talk.
Although I must say I'm a bit surprised. That building is very oppressive, what with all the security and all. I would have thought they would have felt right at home. Maybe the landlords wouldn't renew their lease.
Now, the Westin Building in the 80's, when Westin's corporate offices were there....cocaine and easy sex, and security was only there to throw out the call boys when the execs were done with them. Those were the days.....
Stoli USA is a big sponsor at pro-gay events -- not just the drinking competitions like Mr. Stoli Guy, they were one of the lead sponsors at the NYC Gay Center annual garden party fund raiser this year. Yes it was advertising but the lead placement meant they also gave big bucks to the Gay Center which is a great pro-gay non-profit.
As for the Games, Johnny Weir, who was probably planning to take a big step in his bid to become the next Dick Button (and why not? None of the other potential heirs to Mr Button's microphone can be as sharp as Sandra Bezic and twice as much fun), may well not go at all now. And he's always loved Russia so much.
And that is how you get conservative heterosexuals on board. Conservatives love adoption.
Ah, and @27, sorry to tell, but during each and every major political shakedown here LJ is conveniently crashed 'by hackers attack'. So feel free to not support it with your money. It panders to our government anyways. And Kaspersky labs is one of the biggest entities behind attempts of internet censorship in Russia. Not giving them money to invest in preventing queer Russian kids to learn online it's ok to be queer is even better strategy than ban Russian vodka.
I want all those athletes who have trained so hard to go to Russia and compete, and win, and be queer or visible allies.
What better way to oppose Russia's ban on gay "propaganda" than to have medal winners--loads of them--on the podium sporting rainbows? What are the Russians going to do, stop broadcasting? Arrest bunches of medalists?
What's the international hand-sign for I'm Queer? We need one of those.
Their aim--I assume--is to make it criminal to be out. But at a major world event--hosted by Russia, no less--visibly out and allied athletes would make Russia either piss off the developed world by taking some draconian measure or STFU and let the world see proud queer and queer-allied champions, thus acting to oppose their legislated bigotry and providing images and role models for queer kids and adults all over the world.
If...
And I think the second option is far more likely, no one will arrest Johnny Weir... I'm just saying that nothing will change in terms of general public's mentality. No one will think, ooh, if this athlete I love is gay, maybe being gay is not so bad.
For those who are queer, having visible, positive role models is validating. For people who aren't queer and think that the whole thing isn't their problem, minds can be changed when someone they like comes out. For those who are anti-gay, they might not turn into allies, but at least they'll have to twitch a little when they're served a plateful off cognitive dissonance.
So I think that, "...if this athlete I love is gay, maybe being gay is not so bad," is precisely what will happen. Isn't that why Putin and Co. are trying to suppress pride?
I don't think Putin gives a shit if scores of people (especially athletes) are arrested and detained. It'll put a chill on the sense of usually gorgeous abandonment spectators have come to expect from the athletes' village. Also, foreign athletes (gay or not) who are concerned about their safety will be spending more time looking over their shoulders and less on continuing to train and remaining focused on their goal. If a bunch of athletes are arrested, Putin will simply respond that everyone knew what the law's consequences were. And he'll be laughing as the foreign currency flows in.
The only way to get Putin's attention is to hit his business interests. He'd certainly pay attention if there is a boycott of the Olympics, and even more so if Europe stops doing business with Russia. So, civil rights should push for an Olympic boycott, and, ideally, sanctions.
Olympic athletes and teams are in a bubble at Games time, from when they arrive until they depart. Literally from the moment they step off the plane - there are separate lines at customs and immigration, they don't even need the regular entry visas as their Games accreditation serves as their entry documents. The Olympic Village is a little world unto itself.
And as much as Putin wants to score domestic points by cracking down on the gays, he also wants Russia to be seen internationally as a big time player. Hosting the Olympics and putting on a great show for the world does that. Putting Johnny Weir in jail does not.
I would admire any athlete that went to Sochi to openly challenge the law, that might be an even better protest than a boycott, but anyone doing so had better go in with their eyes open as to the risks.
http://wh.gov/l1KIX