By Elisha-Kim Desmangles
On Saturday September 21st, the federal New Democrats (NDP) issued a petition asking the Conservative government to ban Russian politicians who support Russia’s anti-gay law from obtaining Canadian visas and entering Canada. With the upcoming Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia this February, the Russian government has been met with extreme controversy regarding its ban towards “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations.”
Officially signed into law by President Vladimir Putin this past June, the law bans gay pride rallies, imposes fines on people who spread information about homosexuality to minors, as well as enforcing penalties upon those who post pro-gay views throughout the internet or new media.
Well too bad for Putin, Canada’s not having it.
Canadian government leaders are concerned about the implementation of the law during the 2014 Winter Olympics, even though Canada does not support a boycott of the Games, politicians, such as Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, are denouncing the anti-gay regulations, stating that it’s not just about the Olympics, but the inequality and hatred that comes along with them.
According to an article by The National Post, Baird was quoted saying, “As concerned as we are about the Olympics, that’s nothing. That’s two, three, four weeks for the athletes and participants and the visitors. This mean-spirited and hateful law will affect all Russians 365 days of the year, every year. It is an incitement to intolerance, which breeds hate. And intolerance and hate breed violence.”
For as long as I’ve known, the Olympic Games have been a symbol of worldwide unity amongst not only athletes, but the fans that come to watch and cheer for their home countries. Never should there be any form of discrimination or intolerance of anyone during such a phenomenal global event on any ground, including sexual orientation.  In fact, never should there be any form of such discrimination ever in any situation, Games or not, and I am proud to say that Canada, as a global leader in human rights, has realized that.
However, just like with every controversial issue, the government has been met with criticism. In fact, socially-conservative group REAL Women of Canada have condemned Baird for his disapproval of Russia’s anti-gay law, claiming that this is a way for Canada to set laws in foreign countries as well as a mechanism for Baird to push a leftist agenda.Â
Okay, then. When is it a good time to address the issue of anti-gay discrimination in foreign countries? When would it be acceptable to “intrude” on another nation’s discriminatory policy without being “intrusive?”
Â
Anti-gay discrimination shouldn’t just be given light just because of the upcoming Olympics and then forgotten once we’ve won our golds. Like Baird said, the Olympics will end in a couple of weeks, but what about the discrimination?
The bottom line is that there is no such thing as partial justice. You either have a fair society or don’t. This isn’t an issue of rightist versus leftist. And it’s not about minding one’s own business and looking the other way when a fellow human being is being treated unfairly because of his or her sexual orientation. In that sense, Baird deserves credit for standing up for gay rights around the world instead of being criticized.
This is an issue about universal human rights and there’s no better time then the present to address it.Â
Â
Quote retrieved from:
http://news.nationalpost.com/2…
Photos retrieved from: