Stephen Fry - Sochi Response

In the wake of such insanity and discrimination to the LGBT community of Russia, Stephen Fry’s opinion of boycotting the 2014 Olympic games, held in Sochi, is far from absurd. Russia’s government has blatantly separated a group of people who have committed no crime and have shown no reason to be publically humiliated and punished. These people have been attacked simply because of their sexual orientation, an aspect that has virtually no effect on the well being of others. One must question as to how a government can make a decision like this and proclaim that it is political, and not personal. It is personal. It directly relates to a single group of people; it is discrimination. Being that Russia has displayed this extreme lack of tolerance it is not just for other countries to support this action by traveling to Sochi to compete. While these countries may claim that they are pro-LGBT, competing in Russia will simply show the opposite.

Mr. Fry makes a valid point that the actions of Russia are eerily similar to those of the German government during the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Jewish people were beaten, murdered and humiliated by the Germans, as well as not being allowed to compete in the Olympic games. While one could argue that the extent the Germans went to in regards to eliminating the Jewish people is far beyond the extent the Russians are taking on the LGBT community, this action represents the same motive. The actions against the LGBT community of Russia will only worsen while these unjust laws continue to be enforced.