Sochi- Same Sex Hand holding Initiative.

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"The Same-Sex Hand-Holding Initiative is a campaign to ask everyone present at the 2014 Sochi Olympic and Paralympic Games to take every opportunity to hold hands in public with a person of the same sex to denounce the anti-gay laws in Russia and to call the IOC to action to end discrmination in sport. Before, during and after the Sochi Games, we're asking you to submit your photo of you holding your hand with a person of the same sex to raise awareness of this campaign. Please help!"

http://holdhandsinsochi.tumblr.com/

Seems like a pretty dangerous thing to do if they are doing it actually in Sochi.

Jan 23 2014 10:54PM

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timmi

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Crazy Fool

Ew no gay

Jan 23 2014 10:55PM

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gbrunch

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Pro

gross

Jan 23 2014 10:56PM

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corona

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"Gay Games"? where fencing takes on a whole new meaning

Jan 23 2014 10:58PM

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.AR6rider.

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This is a brilliant way to end up in a KGB prison or dead.

Jan 23 2014 10:58PM

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theBearJew

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Yep. People will be beaten for this.

Jan 23 2014 10:59PM

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shr@gler

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You dont have to agree, but you should respect the ideals of another country!

Jan 23 2014 11:05PM

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Spagett+

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LOL this is the gayest shit. AND this guy has a ball of socks or a tennis ball in his crotch for sure.

Jan 23 2014 11:20PM

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DIX~

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u mirin my joocy dick and balls?

Jan 23 2014 11:21PM

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Spagett+

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Jan 23 2014 11:26PM

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Jeebus.

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Jan 23 2014 11:26PM

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ZeMagnificentKev

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Fuck that. I am not respecting a country where people are beaten in the streets because of their sexual orientation, and make it illegal for anyone to tell them that what their are is ok. I cannot say fuck that enough times. For Christ sake the government basically gave the thumbs up to "vigilantes" for luring and trapping young gay's, then fucking torturing them. No, fuck that.

Jan 23 2014 11:39PM

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2_fadez

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i'm gonna take a gander that all the people who participate in this are the same people who participated in KONY 2012

Jan 23 2014 11:40PM

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Spagett+

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Hahah so spot on.

Jan 23 2014 11:41PM

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a_pla5tic_bag

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first thing i thought. the russians people will probably beat you up if you did that.

on the other hand, i'm curious if there's going to be any terrorism type issues, i feel like the KGB is just going to kill anyone that they deem a threat. and they're the kill first, don't ask questions kind of guys.

Jan 23 2014 11:41PM

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alexg1687

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One central principle of the olympics is that internal politics are put to one side. This works both ways. If you hold the olympics in the States you don't expect other countries to come over and protest about your domestic labour conditions. That's a matter of domestic politics, no matter how strongly they might feel about it.

The same goes for Russia's stance on homosexuality. I don't agree with their laws, but the olympics isn't a stage for protest. It's simply the coming-together of nations for the common pursuit of human performance. It's a celebration of what we have in common, rather than what divides us.

Jan 24 2014 12:12AM

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Darth.Maul

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Inb4 gay people start suddenly disappearing.

I would be so scared to protest against Russia's laws as an outsider. You are pretty much painting a target on your head for the KGB by doing this.

Jan 24 2014 12:22AM

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Phil-X-

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No games.

Jan 24 2014 12:22AM

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Laurent.

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It's not the cold war anymore son. But we still have the Spetsnatz, possibly even more awesome:

Jan 24 2014 12:22AM

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Dustin.

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I don't understand why, in order to end discrimination in Russia, people hold hands and email the pictures to the IOC.

Seems to me like this isn't well thought out, which is strange for another social media initiative.

Jan 24 2014 12:36AM

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AaronO.

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Insane

You are one of the few people who understand this

Jan 24 2014 1:00AM

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feihlination

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good points by several guys here.

but one shouldnt forget that there is no ethically valid argument in suppressing homosexuality. so if these games are held in a country where, in that meaning, obvious human rights violations take place, the sport should be able to change something.

its not an easy issue. and i dont think its comparable to foreign sportsmen complaining about things like the US labour system or whatever during US olympics.

this is a different "kind" of wrong.

i think its better to forget the rule that sports shouldnt be about politics to some degree than respecting the hosts at all costs.

Jan 24 2014 6:24AM

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alexg1687

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It's not so much about just respecting the hosts. It's about having the athletes out there thinking about one thing and one thing only: Their performance.

If you think there are obvious human rights violations then your argument is with the IOC, not Russia, and especially not with the other athletes, who might be distracted by the political campaigns, or worse still, have the political aspect detract from their terrific performance in their sporting field on the nightly news. If you want the games held in countries where so-called human rights are respected then it's easy - give the games to one of those countries. But remember that human rights don't exist because someone, somewhere, one day proclaims that to live without sexual discrimination is a "right"; freedom from that sort of abuse thrives in open, free, democratic societies. You know how many countries on earth can be described that way? Here's a hint: It's a minority.

I suppose what I'm saying is there is a balance to be struck between spreading the olympics between as many nations as possible so each country gets to put one of their major cities on the world stage, and ensuring that we don't "reward" some of the countries with questionable policies by giving them that exposure. To put it bluntly, the olympics aims for a goal above even the "wrongs" you describe; the olympics is a celebration of what we have in common, not what divides us.

Jan 24 2014 7:05AM

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Huck_Norris

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I guess I don't understand why I'd put myself in danger just to piss off people whose minds will never change.

Yeah sure, fuck with Russian skinheads and then the police after that... Sounds like fun. I'm sure Russian prisons aren't sketchy at all.

Jan 24 2014 7:41AM

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feihlination

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yes, the problem is the IOC, but the athletes have a chance to do something way beyond their athletic feats. i know they are not allowed to "act politically".

and i agree, the olympics shouldnt be held in certain countries and the requirements overall for the stadiums and shit should be changed as well.

its like the soccer WC. countries go apeshit for this marketing gag (might be profitable in the WC year due to all the visitors), build several new stadiums or have to renovate stadiums which are older then 10 years (which is crazy).

after the event, all this stuff is useless.

so yes, i think that the olympics and other such events should be held in countries with the right "infrastructure". obviously, there isnt everything perfect in the western world, but the human rights situation is pretty solid and all the athletes accomodation and sporting venues are already there/can be build without going waist deep into debts.

i am by far the last guy to be racist or "western supremacist" or whatever, i just think that most of the times, those events are a big financial burden and not a worthwhile investment (maybe a study proves otherwise, although i think its hard to decipher the exact impact, especially long-term). so give them to countries that can handle it. and if you dont want political issues, give it to countries where basic human rights are protected by law.

Jan 24 2014 7:58AM

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