The Russian law against "gay propaganda" will officially not apply to participants of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi a top lawmaker confirmed.
"The Olympics is a major international event. Our task is to be as politically correct and tolerant as we can be. That's why we made the decision not to raise this issue during the Games," Interfax news agency reported Igor Ananskikh, the head of the Russian Duma Committee on physical training, sports and youth, as saying.
However, there was much back and forth about the highly heated debate and on Thursday Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said on Thursday, "No one is forbidding an athlete with non-traditional sexual orientation from coming to Sochi, but if he goes onto the street and starts propagandizing it, then of course he will be held accountable," Mutko said according to RT.com.
RT reported that the International Olympic Committee "received assurances from the highest level of government in Russia that the legislation will not affect those attending or taking part in the Games."
On June 30 the legislation which prohibited the "propaganda of homosexuality to minors" was enacted and signed by President Vladimir Putin.
If an individual is found guilty of promoting "non-traditional sexual relationships" the person could get a fine of up to 5000 rubles or U.S. $150.
"The sum would be multiplied by 10 if those individuals appear to be civil servants. Organizations, meanwhile, would have to pay 1 million rubles (about $30,000) or have their activity suspended for 90 days if they do not comply with the fresh amendment," reported RT.com.
Many bars around the world have recently stopped serving Russian vodka in protest to the country's anti-homosexual laws.
CNN Money reported that the protests come in lieu of Vladimir Putin's new laws that bans same sex couples from adopting Russian born children. The law also allows foreigners to be arrested that are suspected to be "pro-gay."
In response to the laws Dan Savage, a sex columnist, started a "Dump Russian Vodka" campaign which asked bartenders and owners to stop selling Russian vodka.
"Show the world that Russian persecution of gays is unacceptable," says a campaign flier. "Boycott Russian vodka until persecution of gays and their allies ends."
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
