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October, 2024

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LGBT Athletes in Sochi

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MaxBerkowitz
Posts: 440 - Karma: 2,611
As you may know already, Russia is incredibly homophobic. Russia recently introduced a law that makes it "illegal to spread information about non-traditional sexual behaviour." Basically, gay pride rallies are banned, publicly stating you are gay to a minor is banned, and if you read between the lines, free speech is banned.

Four Dutch tourists were arrested and jailed after interviewing a gay 17 year old for their film on gay rights issues in Murmansk.

It gets worse.

Vitaly Milonov, one of the lawmakers behind the "Homosexual Propaganda" law has stated that athletes in Sochi will have to abide by these rules. That means any LGBT athletes will not be able to be with their loved one for support during the olympics. If an athlete speaks out about the gay rights atrocities in Russia, they will suffer severe consequences.

Here's where NS comes in. There are multiple athletes competing in the 2014 Olympic Games who regularly read this site. If you're on an olympic team, you can help out. Next time you have an interview on National Television, talk about gay rights in Russia. It's that easy. Spend 5 minutes talking about how disappointed you are with Russia's "Homosexual Propaganda" law. Let the world know what's going on.

NS, rate this up so everyone can see it on the splash page!
Share it to Facebook and Twitter!
If you have a friend who is competing in the Olympics (seems like everyone claims they do) tell them!

Thanks folks.
Jul 30 2013 11:46PM
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--ski--
Posts: 1670 - Karma: 817
You need to look to post-WW2 Russian history to see how bigotry became so prevalent. After Russia suffered such substantial casualties in WW2, everybody was encouraged to reproduce for the good of the "Motherland". Now in the torrent of nationalistic propaganda that followed, anyone who was unwilling/unable to reproduce were touted as opposes of communist ideology and traitors of Russia. Now in today's society, Russia is hugely patriarchal and testosterone fueled; men must defend their manhood and any mental/psychological illness is so stigmatised it's considered weakness -and there is no room for weak men in Russian society. Homosexuality in Russia is still viewed as a mental/psychological illness, so hating on homosexuals is almost a symbolic way for heterosexual men to prove their strength and manhood.
Jul 31 2013 10:26PM
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JeremyH
Posts: 2283 - Karma: 275
Environmental policies does not equate to human rights my man. It think theres a bit of a difference between how we treat each-other and how we treat of world. You're right in the sense that we shouldn't be telling them how to to conduct themselves within their own country but if they oppress the rights of people/tourists visiting their country then thats kinda fucked up
Jul 31 2013 10:29PM
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panojibber.
Posts: 1041 - Karma: 683
This! Kind of cool to see NS speaking out.
Jul 31 2013 10:39PM
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rockersteez
Posts: 593 - Karma: 1,199
Haven't seen you around these parts in a while
Jul 31 2013 10:48PM
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SkierX
Posts: 16253 - Karma: 538
That all gives more reason to be concerned about further escalation of marginalizing of homosexuals in Russia.
Jul 31 2013 10:55PM
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--ski--
Posts: 1670 - Karma: 817
Absolutely. It's frightening what's happening over there. I lived in Moscow for just under a year and seen the intolerance first hand.
Jul 31 2013 11:01PM
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Shredsterr
Posts: 2090 - Karma: 6,930
How exactly did they get together, his mother and father? Sounds like a pretty interesting story to me!
Jul 31 2013 11:25PM
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Brule.
Posts: 3920 - Karma: 6,206
Story time?
Jul 31 2013 11:26PM
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rosaparking
Posts: 202 - Karma: 1,174
as an openly gay free skier, I just want to say that I will never be going to Russia, or watching anymore edits from life febreze media. This is just really disappointing to hear, come on its 2013, lets get it together.
Aug 1 2013 12:46AM
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Brule.
Posts: 3920 - Karma: 6,206
I lol'd at where you said Life Febreeze Media.
#BoycottSochi
Aug 1 2013 1:05AM
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PYPat
Posts: 109 - Karma: 975
this.
Aug 1 2013 1:18AM
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Raz.
Posts: 7456 - Karma: 1,611
laaaaaaaaaaame
Aug 1 2013 1:39AM
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STARIKOFF
Posts: 2 - Karma: 80
gay in Russia
We didn't like gays, and it's normal for us. We didn't like to see gay in Russia

about gay action in Russia http://zyalt.livejournal.com/?skip=150

Click for larger image
Aug 1 2013 4:41AM
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kyxap
Posts: 9 - Karma: 29
guys, I'm from Russian, can someone help me with immigration?
I wanna live in progressive country.

help me asap.
Aug 1 2013 5:46AM
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whrss
Posts: 3 - Karma: -21
What a hateful bunch of ignorant people ready to start a war against the rest of us who doesn't preach pro-gay views.
What a disappointment.  thought FREE skiers are free spirited, open-minded, independent thinkers, And all I have seen here - is hatred, ignorance, mostly borrowed and rudimentary, opinions, call for a violence, hypocrisy, and pure idiotism.
A bunch of blindfold morons following the lead of "MaxBerkowitz" who started his blog with an intentionally wrong statements and you sheep just followed, never questioning the valifitty of original statements, raising the stakes, and along the way ready to persecute everyone who doesn't share this BS.
So sad...

Stop pretending to protect somebody right.  Screwing somebody in the ass not a "right", call it a pleasure, call it perversity or call it teapot - but don't call it "right". Bringing this preach out to schools, throwing down show off parades is not a "right", its imposition of unwanted lifestyle on innocent children, IS a violation of the rest of us, and our children, rights.
What Russians are saying - what you do in your bedroom, is not our business, there many openly homosexual politician, singers, artist, dancers ... and people are tolerant enough to accept them in the community, but wht they are saying is don't bring it out on the streets, in the classroom, don't make show off etc. How unreasonable is it? Most of parents here are lobbying for the same, to remove this gay agenda from elementary and middle school curriculum.
The fact how brainwashed you are already, speak volumes about that their liberal gay agenda works! (on  you!!! )
The same politicians who pushed in the gay agenda , is now trying to push the pedophiles' one. And what next - bestiality?
At some point you will have children, wouldn't you be concerned? Unless, I forgot, being absorbed in your pro gay rant you may chose an alternative lifestyle yourself . 
Ok, that fine. Its you right. We as a human race will diminish. The fittest will win, I think I will better move to Russia.
Stop being gullible and take what media feeds you. Use your mind, do research. Think.


Aug 1 2013 6:03AM
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turducken
Posts: 749 - Karma: 601
If you want someone to take you seriously, granted that may be impossible after your post, it's best not to hide behind an alias. It makes you look like a coward.

Oh, and ....

Aug 1 2013 6:25AM
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Turkelton
Posts: 2829 - Karma: 8,558
Being Gay is nothing of these levels. It's two consenting ADULTS together. It's also found in other animals other than us. The people posting on NS and fb like this are goddamn morons
Aug 1 2013 6:36AM
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casual
Posts: 6712 - Karma: 6,748
Amazing. The best part is where you pretend to not be Russian and/or LifeSteezeMedia associated. Second best part is where you invoke "FREEskiing" to validate your obvious bigotry.Third best part is where you say screwing someone in the ass isn't a right—as if gay men and women have magical spells and voodoo magic to turn children or adults alike gay and can gain access to anyone's ass at any time. I also like that everyone who has supported a similar mindset as you claims that homosexuals are "imposing an unwanted lifestyle on innocent children"...because homosexuals are forcing children to be gay, right? Oh no, they just don't want to be arrested....so unreasonable!
Bring it out in the classroom, remove the agenda from the elementary classroom?....what the fuck are you talking about?! You sound absolutely batshit crazy, mate. And, who the fuck is pushing the pedophile agenda, and why are you in anyway comparing the forcible, illegal rape of a child to consensual relationships between adults? A quick google search, with admittedly very little effort or research, points out that heterosexuals are 11:1 as likely to sexually abuse children....which is coincidentally almost exactly the figure presented as the incidence of homosexuality in the general population.

Stop being gullible? Do research? Holy fuck, man. The closet gay accusations thrown at anyone and everyone who doesn't give a shit about another person's sexuality are hysterical. It says everything that you and your ilk believe that homosexuality is a disease or delusion that can be spread and caught by others. Have you ever considered being homosexual? No? But, haven't you been exposed to this liberal gay agenda your entire life? Well, why aren't you gay? You just have particularly strong gay defense? For someone chastising others to think, you don't seem to have done much reflecting on the issue.

You are totally paranoid and should probably find something else to worry about. Last thing, this whole tactic where hateful, bigoted people scream about other's "tolerating" their views is total and complete utter bullshit. It's intellectually dishonest on every level, and is insulting. You can't treat a group of people as subhuman and disgusting, and then call those who call you bigots....bigots. It doesn't work that way.
Aug 1 2013 6:52AM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
Go home life sneeze, you're drunk
Aug 1 2013 7:35AM
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Shukovski
Posts: 470 - Karma: 433
You make me feel ashamed for being Russian.
Aug 1 2013 7:48AM
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whoa-dere
Posts: 10596 - Karma: 7,103
what's with these new accounts
Aug 1 2013 8:02AM
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CKpolicy
Posts: 2587 - Karma: 2,463
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Aug 1 2013 9:31AM
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SkierX
Posts: 16253 - Karma: 538
That .gif perfectly represents what was going on in that post.
Aug 1 2013 9:37AM
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Bogs
Posts: 4296 - Karma: 1,361
Let me guess, gay people aren't humans, so therefore can't have their human rights violated when they get locked up for being gay?
Aug 1 2013 10:05AM
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Mr.Sloth
Posts: 5091 - Karma: 13,469
They met through the gay community, and his mother wanted to give birth to and raise a child. So they did a sperm donation. His mom is probably one of the greatest people I know
Aug 1 2013 10:12AM
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Mr.Sloth
Posts: 5091 - Karma: 13,469
Bang bang
Aug 1 2013 10:17AM
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BrokenBones
Posts: 1275 - Karma: 703
Fuck lifesteezemedia. While I understand that his views are in line with his mainstream culture, there is simply no excuse for bigotry. This whole issue worries me be wise I foresee a strong boycott of the Sochi comming and I would hate to see the first Olympics with free skiing not attended by all countries. Bottom line... Fuck Russia.
Aug 1 2013 11:01AM
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Brule.
Posts: 3920 - Karma: 6,206
Wow. That's not what you see everyday, but good for them. It teaches a lesson that people of the LGBTQ community are nice people who want to be treated the same way as heterosexuals.
Aug 1 2013 11:06AM
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.ZT.
Posts: 5679 - Karma: 2,792
This thread is a great idea. I feel very strongly that regardless of sexual orientation you should be treated the same wherever you are. The fact that Russia is holding such an important worldwide event and at the same time introducing hateful laws is downright disgusting.

I would love to see freeskiers and other athletes speak out against such hatred.

I have many Russian friends in the US who are ashamed of the way their country is acting and I do think that it is important to know there are still some rational people who are of Russian decent or are Russian still living in Russia. We do not need to make this another issue of xenophobia, but rather speak out against this lack of regards for human rights.

As far as LSM, I unliked the FB page and downvoted their newest edit (I encourage you to boycott them and maybe do the same as well), they have lost so much respect in my eyes,which is unfortunate seeing they had a lot of talent. As have Tanner and Henrik. We need an explanation from them NOW. Their comments were terrible IMO.
Aug 1 2013 11:12AM
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artfullydodged
Posts: 8358 - Karma: 1,674
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Aug 1 2013 11:36AM
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dilla_says_go
Posts: 5333 - Karma: 168
way to perpetuate the stereotype that russians are sneaky, distrustful bastards.
Aug 1 2013 11:43AM
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PancakeSquad
Posts: 27 - Karma: 481
guys guys
latest news
our government with Milonov (man who created that law) made another one
it says
"Every Olympic athlete must be tested for being homosexual"
The test is pretty simple - athlete's going to be attached to a chair and watch gay porn
Get a boner - gtfo from Olympics
That's communism, bitches
Aug 1 2013 11:53AM
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Brule.
Posts: 3920 - Karma: 6,206
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Aug 1 2013 11:56AM
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Mstchief
Posts: 751 - Karma: 524
I can't always say this, but I am very proud of NS right now. Marriage Equality for all!

This is going to become a huge deal. It will be the first time gay rights will be a world movement rather then broken down into individual countries. Hopefully NS will play a small part in helping equality advance a little bit further on this planet.
Aug 1 2013 1:59PM
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Brule.
Posts: 3920 - Karma: 6,206
After NS plays its part in spreading marriage equality around the world, then we need to bring it to, hopefully, the rest of the world. I'm proud of NS, except for the people who are against same-sex marriage. If we have been paying attention to the events around the world and we must have all seen how the crazy and dumb people are fighting against marriage equality. IMO any statement that is made as to why marriage equality is wrong is politically incorrect and illogical. MARRIAGE EQUALITY FOR ALL!
Aug 1 2013 2:08PM
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SEABURN
Posts: 4859 - Karma: 2,752
your argument has no validity.
Aug 1 2013 2:14PM
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.frenchy
Posts: 18221 - Karma: 12,323
This.

USA USA USA
Aug 1 2013 2:14PM
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JeremyClarkson
Posts: 1599 - Karma: 1,934
JAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH RASTA NO MESS WIF DEM BLOODCLAAAAAT BWATTYBOIIIIIS
Aug 1 2013 2:17PM
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rockersteez
Posts: 593 - Karma: 1,199
Oh god. Could do without hearing another USA chant ever. I wouldn't be surprised if every time you drink you end up starting one.
Aug 1 2013 2:19PM
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acc
Posts: 4122 - Karma: 222
I've always been a huge fan of yours regardless of the bullshit but you sound like a complete fucking idiot right now. The Olympics are the #1 place for equality & diversity.
Aug 1 2013 2:24PM
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rockersteez
Posts: 593 - Karma: 1,199
Unnecessary additions like that really help with your point. ALSO CAPS LOCK AND STUFF
Aug 1 2013 2:28PM
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acc
Posts: 4122 - Karma: 222
Were all laws/rules made for the right reason(s)?

Did laws/rules prevent you from smoking bud, drinking underage, hitting urban rails, etc., etc., etc.? Now you just sound like a hypocrite.
Aug 1 2013 2:38PM
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will_powder
Posts: 3194 - Karma: 5,445
The Olympics are so much more than sport, and it's probably time you realize that. It's a time for Russia to show off to the world, for people to come together and celebrate the power of the human race. Now Russia wants to exclude a segment of people from the party. That's messed up.

Read up:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Olympics_Black_Power_salute
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Owens

It's time for change.
Aug 1 2013 2:38PM
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SEABURN
Posts: 4859 - Karma: 2,752
do you not understand how what you both said could be perceived as unintelligent and self-centered?

Aug 1 2013 2:38PM
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rockersteez
Posts: 593 - Karma: 1,199
What does saying HAHAHA add though? I'm not really against gay people or anything but LOL THEY CAN GET ARRESTED AT THE OLYMPICS LOL.

Aug 1 2013 2:38PM
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Mstchief
Posts: 751 - Karma: 524
What if Russia banned Rastafarians home boy? Its easy to say its the law when your not the one being discriminated against
Aug 1 2013 2:40PM
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Jane6
Posts: 5359 - Karma: 4,506
This is so fucked.

If it was a question of race and not sexual orientation would the reaction to this be the same? "Yeah man russia aint about black people whats the big deal whatever floats their boat.Im just gonna go there and do my thing and pretend like its nbd".

This is a great way for people to make a stand and show states like Russia that they dont agree with their views. But hey, maybe Thall isnt about equality for all, who am I to judge, jah bless and all that.
Aug 1 2013 2:53PM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
I only speak out against injustice if it's aimed at me specifically. If not, oppress away. ;)
Aug 1 2013 2:53PM
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artfullydodged
Posts: 8358 - Karma: 1,674
Can I just point out how hilarious it is that this guy thinks the gay rights campaign comes down to the right to "screw somebody in the ass" LMFAO can you imagine if all the gay pride parade signs were like "LET US BUTTFUCK" "WHAT WHAT IN THE BUTT" "ANALS OF HISTORY!!"
Aug 1 2013 2:57PM
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