Support for the 2014 Olympics is Support for Russia's War on Homosexuality

In 1936, when other nations threatened to boycott the Berlin Olympics because Hitler had declared that no blacks or Jews should compete in Berlin, Hitler recapitulated to the point where he demanded that all "No Jews" signs be removed during the Games, and that all police and brownshirts hold back on beatings of Jews and other race enemies during the Games. Because there was no Internet or social media at that time, and it was easy to fool people, a lot of Americans and others who went to Berlin for the Games thought that Hitler wasn't such a bad chap after all, that the persecution of Jews and others was hogwash, and Hitler laughed into his sleeve...once the games ended, he made everything even worse for Jews and others, and limited media coverage of the truth.

It was a strange time in history for Jews and African-Americans. We were also considered racially inferior or suspect in other countries, yet we saw the Olympics as our chance to shine--to beat the "master race" at sport. In many instances, we did. The Hungarian Jews were master fencers and wrestlers. And of course, everyone knows about Jesse Owens. There were many non-Aryan Olympic champions that year who showed the Germans that they are not invincible. Their victories, unfortunately, did not change Hitler's agenda.

Seventy eight years later--in 2014--the Russians will host the Summer Olympics in Sochi, by the Black Sea. In 2013, Vladimir Putin has declared a war on LGBT people and has given police and vigilante groups free reign to beat and arrest anyone even suspected of being queer. While Putin has said that foreign LGBT "guests" and athletes who participate in the Olympics will be safe, and the anti-gay laws will not apply to them, that is not good enough. As my friend nomadmatan said, "We do not need an LGBTQ Jesse Owens--we need a boycott." Any nation or corporation that has taken a stand to support LGBT rights should NOT support the Summer Olympics in Sochi.

A petition is going around to ask corporate sponsors--Coca-Cola, Panasonic, and others--to pull out of the Games. Sign it and comment if you care about human rights.