David Herschenzohn, in today's New York Times reports on an advisory the State Department put out concerning travel to Russia for the Sochi Olympics on Friday. He highlights three things in the advisory: a warning about terrorist threats against the Games, concern about the medical facilities available because they couold differ from Western expectations, and reminding
Americans of a Russian law barring “propaganda” about nontraditional sexual relations.
We have
the advisory available, and we also have a page at the State Department website
devoted to the concerns of LGBT travelers, so it should be easy to assess the intent of these warnings.
Below the great orange netting material.
The LGBT Travel information page first. It's really good! It starts with this observation:
Most LGBT travelers encounter no problems while overseas, but it helps to be prepared and research your destination before you go. There are a number of countries that provide legal protections to those who are LGBT. Unfortunately, there are others that do not, and a significant number that even criminalize consensual same-sex sexual relations. Persons convicted in these countries could be sentenced to prison, and/or be punished by fines, deportation, flogging, or even sentenced to death. Before choosing one’s international destination, LGBT travelers should carefully consider the laws and biases of their international destination and decide how open one can be regarding one’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Personal judgment and knowledge of local laws and customs before one goes will help ensure your safety.
Of course! Do your research, and let it direct you to places you'll be welcome, and if you have to go to someplace less welcoming, do even more research. There's a comprehensive set of FAQs, and a nice checklist after that, starting with this obvious piece of advice
Be a responsible tourist. Avoid potentially risky situations, and don’t do anything that you wouldn’t do at home!
Even less than you'd do at home, in some countries and regions. It also has a section on immigration and visa issues, and a link to the
International Lesbian and Gay Association, a really interesting site. In general, State is concerned about our well-being when we travel abroad.
So to the advisory. First, there's a section about public demonstrations, and it gets squirrely. After some boilerplate guidance about using caution because peaceful demonstrations can turn violent, there's this:
On January 10, Vice Prime Minister Dmitriy Kozak announced that the Sochi authorities have determined that the village of Khost, located seven miles from the Olympic venues, will be the designated area for political demonstrations during the Winter Olympics. Demonstrations must be unrelated to the Olympics and the organizers must receive permission prior to the event from the regional authorities of the Ministry of Interior and the Federal Security Service (FSB). It is also worth noting that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Charter states "no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas."
Okay, it's NOT a full-throated endorsement, but it's an acknowledgement of a policy that has been used against American athletes in the past.
Has permission been granted for anything? Here's the New York Times:
On Friday in Russia, the deputy prime minister responsible for the Sochi Games, Dmitri Kozak, said that so far no applications for such permits had been received, and that the Olympics were an inappropriate setting for demonstrations.
Heaven forbid the organizers of these Olympic games should be embarrassed by a demonstration against a flawed Russian policy.
The Times also notes, and look at the phrasing:
The United States is sending a delegation to the Olympics that includes a number of high-profile gay former athletes, but the State Department advisory warned about publicly advocating gay rights.
Here's what the advisory says about LGBT issues:
In June 2013, Russia's State Duma passed a law banning the "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations" to minors. The U.S. government understands that this law applies to both Russian citizens and foreigners in Russia. Russian citizens found guilty of violating the law could face a fine of up to 100,000 rubles ($3,100). Foreign citizens face similar fines, up to 14 days in jail, and deportation. The law makes it a crime to promote LGBT equality in public, but lacks concrete legal definitions for key terms. Russian authorities have indicated a broad interpretation of what constitutes "LGBT propaganda," and provided vague guidance as to which actions will be interpreted by authorities as "LGBT propaganda." LGBT travelers should review the State Department's LGBT Travel Information page.
Think about it, says State.
Is this complicity with the IOC? The answer to that question appears to be "reluctantly," and it hinges on whether mention of the policy of a NGO is endorsement of that policy. We have no idea how Russia will interpret our official delegation nor do we know what will happen if athletes choose to mount a protest of their own. I guess we'll be watching the news.