Question of the Day: Sochi 2014

Are we predicting the worst in Sochi?

Sometimes, I feel we are overreacting about this.

Should we be worried or will everything be alright?

Interesting Quote: Cher

"I can’t name names but my friend called who is a big oligarch over there, and asked me if I’d like to be an ambassador for the Olympics and open the show. I immediately said no. I want to know why all of this gay hate just exploded over there. He said the Russian people don’t feel the way the government does."

Cher turned down the Olympics in Sochi

Move the Olympics out of Sochi! Okay, then... Where and How?

So we are continuing to hear about the Winter Games boycott. Keith Olbermann gave a nasty read about it the other day on his show and we still see rants on a few blogs.

But while we're demanding for Sochi to shut down, let's actually step up two more steps in the argument. So far, I haven't heard from any activists or celebrity about where to the move the Olympics, let alone, how can this happen.

Are we thinking about how a particular country or city could handle the Olympics? The cost of the move? The athletes readjusting or even if the other places are safe for the athletes?  It is my belief that we have to think ahead and realistically about all of this. While it's cute rant and rave, it's pointless without a solid plan to see it through.

And I don't want to hear someone say, "That's their problem to handle this," no Boo Boo, we're making the demands, we should also have plan. We need to start providing solutions, let me rephrase that, SOLID solutions, no quick fixes.

I think if gay activists just have a seat and think through a lot of this, A) they may see that the boycott is impossible at this point or B) come up with how, when, and where. Still, it may not move mountains, but it could get some more folks talking and possibly reconsidering. You never know, right?

Now, as always, I am a stanch gay rights fighter; but I'm also realistic and analytically sound. I like a good battle and I also like to win. But I don't care for feel-good rants with no results, that's not a winning combo.  But what could be great are plans, solutions and sensible ideas. You win when you start and finish. How about some of these activists lay out a plan to win for once.

Interesting Quote: IOC marketing chief Gerhard Heiberg

“Lately there has been a lot of discussion and I am pushed by several sponsors about what will happen with this new law in Russia. Especially the American sponsors are afraid what could happen. This could ruin a lot for all of us. We are not there to try to change the law in Russia. This is an internal Russian decision but what will the consequences be? This is possibly a way where we could get some kind of invitation for people to make demonstrations.”

He hoping to prove an answer that will satisfy all... Good luck.

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The Director General of the IOC says the Winter Games ain't moving out Sochi

De Kepper is on the right

The hope of moving the Olympics out of Sochi is pretty much dead. The Director General of the IOC, Christophe De Kepper, has shot down all plans of moving the Winter Olympics somewhere else. Regardless of Russia’s anti-gay law, the Olympics stay put.

In a letter he wrote, Christophe said:

Moving the Olympic Games to another location is something that is not being discussed. Organizing the Olympic Games is a seven-year process and a complex exercise for any Organizing Committee. Any suggestion to move one addition of the Games to a city that previously hosted them is unrealistic and unfeasible for many reasons. To give you just one example, the athletes’ rooms in the Olympic Village in Vancouver have been converted into apartments and have become home to hundreds of families. Finding another location to accommodate the athletes would be impossible six months away from the Games. There are many more technical, financial and security reasons that make such a proposal unfeasible.

Christophe said that they will continue pressing their concerns over the gay athletes' safety, but in the nutshell, this ain't going to happen.

Now, you may know my stance. I always thought it was unrealistic to move the Olympics. It was a bad plan from the gate and it set us up for failure and finger pointing. Again, it's another example of cloud-grabbing activism.

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Coke's Statement over the Sochi Olympics Boycott

As one of the world’s most inclusive brands, we value and celebrate diversity. We have long been a strong supporter of the LGBT community and have advocated for inclusion and diversity through both our policies and practices. We do not condone human rights abuses, intolerance or discrimination of any kind anywhere in the world.

As an Olympic sponsor since 1928, we believe the Olympic Games are a force for good that unite people through a common interest in sports, and we have seen firsthand the positive impact and long-lasting legacy they leave on every community that has been a host.

We support the core values of the Olympic Movement – excellence, friendship and respect – and are proud to continue our role in helping to make the Olympics a memorable experience for athletes, fans and communities all around the world. We are engaging with the International Olympic Committee on this important matter.

We believe a more positive impact can be made through continued involvement, rather than by sitting on the sidelines.

Our actions and policies demonstrating our support for the LGBT community include the following:

• We have a long-standing HR policy protecting our employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.
• We have a Global Mutual Respect Policy that sets out our expectations for how employees should treat one another as well as anyone they interact with as a representative of the Company. The policy outlines our commitment to valuing diversity and inclusion and providing a workplace free of discrimination or harassment. You can read more about this at: http://www.coca-colacompany.com/our-company/global-mutual-respect-policy
• We have scored 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index every year since it was launched in 2006.
• We have had an LGBT Business Resource Group at the Company for 13 years that is funded and supported through the Chief Diversity Officer’s department.
• We were one of the first companies in the U.S. to publicly support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to protect employees from discrimination due to sexual orientation.
• We have provided financial support and significant Company presence to several LGBT events over the past several years, including numerous Pride festivals and parades across the country.

Our Global Supplier Diversity team participates in outreach events such as the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) Awards Dinner, the NGLCC Business and Leadership Conference, and the Atlanta Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Corporate Sponsors Reception.

We will continue to promote our values for diversity and tolerance around the world through our policies and actions.

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Gay Activists, Stop with These Pointless Boycotts

Okay, we have had two boycotts gear towards Russia and their anti-gay law. One, was dumping Stoli vodka and the other was dumping Coke. The coke one is recent. The idea was to force Coca-Cola to not sponsor the Winter Games. However, these boycotts are truly baffling to me because, there are no real impact to them.

When Dan Savage started the #DumpStoli campaign, many gays jumped aboard. I don't know why folks jumped so quick. Maybe because it had Dan's name on it, whatever, folks claimed it was the second coming of boycotts. But as the weeks rolled out, we saw several gay businesses participate... But that was it! It didn't catch on and within a month, the initiative was over. There were posts claiming it worked, but those claims came from folks who wanted to save face and didn't want to admit defeat.

Now, there's a dump Coke protest that didn't amount to much either. So, I have to ask myself and all of you... What is the frakking point?

If we're trying to get attention, fine, you did. But if we are trying to change policy, laws and frame of thinking, dumping liquor and soda pop ain't going to make a difference. Doing something for the sake of doing something don't mean nothing. What needs to done is something that has a long standing and effective impact. These boycotts just makes us look disorganized and true believers of the knee jerk reaction. We are capable of great things, why are we co-signing on these pipe dreams?

I ask for LGBT activists to end these boycotts and really work with Russian activists on something that can change history. These quick fixes and half assed ideas ain't doing anyone any favors.