Beyond Sport

Beyond Sport by Jimmie Santee



Originally published in Professional Skaters Magazine, Sep/Oct 2014 



In July, the IOC made this statement in regard to the recent anti-gay laws signed into Russian law by President Vladimir Putin:

"The International Olympic Committee is clear that sport is a human right and should be available to all regardless of race, sex or sexual orientation. The Games themselves should be open to all, free of discrimination, and that applies to spectators, officials, media, and of course athletes.”

The PSA in turn strongly endorsed this IOC statement in a press release on July 31.



As an association, our press release was an appropriate response, but as a man I wished I could say more. It really bothered me that an educated country like Russia would even pass a draconian “law” like this as it were. It’s hard to comprehend. The law as reported in a USA Today article, “… outlaws "homosexual propaganda" making public events that promote gay rights and public displays of affection by same-sex couples illegal.” Something as simple as wearing a rainbow pin could land someone in a Russian jail for up to two weeks.



Even though the IOC was reassured from government officials that athletes and attendee’s would be exempt from their anti-gay statutes, Vitaly Milonov, co-sponsor of the “Gay propaganda” law was quoted as saying the law will remain in force during the Sochi Winter Olympic Games in 2014. Of course officially, the Russian government has made no statement. 



Ultimately, it is challenging for me to grasp this law. It goes way beyond sport. What is the endgame that this law seeks to accomplish? Does the law do anything but draw a line in the sand?



While we Americans are not nearly as perfect as we ought to be, we at least have the opportunity to experience the pursuit of happiness. Actually, the words written in our Declaration of Independence are - “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”



Interestingly, in 1948 the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations. Article III of the declaration reads, “Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person.” The Declaration was adopted by a vote of 48 – 0, and eight abstentions. And who might the abstentions be you ask? Number 1 – the Soviet Union!



In all fairness, after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1993, a new constitution for the Russian Federation was written. Chapter 2, The Rights of Man and Citizen, is a very interesting read and two of the articles in particular.

Article 17 - 1. In the Russian Federation recognition and guarantees shall be provided for the rights and freedoms of man and citizen according to the universally recognized principles and norms of international law and according to the present Constitution.

Article 55 - 2. In the Russian Federation no laws shall be adopted cancelling or derogating human rights and freedoms.

If I were a political science scholar I might question the legality of the “Gay propaganda” law. The ‘non-traditional relationships’ bill as it is officially called in Russia reveals that Soviet doctrine is still a major threat to rights and freedoms there.



But…Article 19 - 2. The State shall guarantee the equality of rights and freedoms of man and citizen, regardless of sex, race, nationality, language, origin, property and official status, place of residence, religion, convictions, membership of public associations, and also of other circumstances. All forms of limitations of human rights on social, racial, national, linguistic or religious grounds shall be banned.



Article 19 – 2 has everything except sexual orientation. Could it be argued that sexual orientation would fall under “other circumstances?” The jury is out on that one.



So I guess we should not be surprised that this is happening in Russia where you may have a life with no liberty and the pursuit of happiness so long as you fit within the government mold.