President Obama will not attend the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, but
he is sending some openly gay athletes in what's being seen as a message
to that nation about diversity and acceptance in the face of Russia's
laws banning 'gay propaganda'.
Lesbian
tennis legend Billie Jean King will attend the opening ceremonies in a
delegation led by former Homeland Security secretary Janet Napolitano.
Michael A. McFaul, United States Ambassador to the Russian Federation,
Robert L. Nabors, Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff
for Policy, and figure skater Brian Boitano will join them.
Out lesbian Caitlin Cahow, Olympic silver medalist and bronze
medalist in women’s ice hockey will join the delegation for the closing
ceremonies, led by William J. Burns, Deputy Secretary of State. Joining
them are Michael A. McFaul, United States Ambassador to the Russian
Federation, Bonnie Blair, five-time Olympic gold medalist and one-time
bronze medalist in speed skating, and Eric Heiden, five-time Olympic
gold medalist in speed skating.
Neither First Lady Michelle Obama nor VP Joe Biden will attend.
Said Catow to USA Today:
"It's obviously a statement that's being
made, but I think it's an incredibly respectful one. Basically, the
White House is highlighting Americans who know what it means to have
freedoms and liberties under the constitution. That's really what we're
representing in Sochi and it's not at all different from what's espoused
in the spirit of Olympism. So I think it's just a great group of
people. I can't believe I've been named one of them because it's a
remarkable roster and I just think that we're going to represent what
the best America can be. Hopefully, it will unify all of Team USA and
send a message of love and acceptance to the world."
The AP adds:
The decision follows a public campaign by
gay rights groups to urge the White House to include gays, lesbians and
their supporters in the delegation in hopes of drawing attention to
Russia's national laws banning "gay propaganda." Those laws and the
broader issue of discrimination against the LGBT community in Russia
have become a flash point as the world looks to next year's Olympic
Games in Sochi.
The Human Rights Campaign, one of the groups that wrote the White House last month asking Obama to include gays and lesbians in the delegation, applauded the unveiling of the delegation Tuesday.
The Human Rights Campaign, one of the groups that wrote the White House last month asking Obama to include gays and lesbians in the delegation, applauded the unveiling of the delegation Tuesday.
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