13 ms·

Google shows support for LGBT Olympians

104 points by coloneltcb 13y ago

tareqak 13y ago
Too bad encrypted.google.com doesn't have doodles.
- pyromine 13y ago
  It does for me...
- zhemao 13y ago
  What do you mean? It showed up for me on encrypted.google.com.
- robotfelix 13y ago
  It's not a doodle, it's a footer. And for those who for whatever reason cannot see it on Google, it reads: "The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practicing sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play." –Olympic Charter
  - socksy 13y ago
    It's a doodle too, try going to a google homepage where it's the 7th already: http://google.ru http://google.ru http://google.co.uk http://google.co.uk etc
boyter 13y ago
The LGBT Russia thing is totally blown out of proportion. http://www.scribd.com/doc/203382931/Russian-Lgbt-Law-White-Paper http://www.scribd.com/doc/203382931/Russian-Lgbt-Law-White-P... Before you decide to down-vote me into oblivion and accuse me of hating minority groups please read the white paper linked above. Note I am not affiliated with the person who wrote it or scribd. I just want people to see both sides of the argument. EDIT - And what a surprise down-voted. Seriously did anyone clicking the down arrow actually read the paper? Considering how long it is and that this post is 5 minutes old I seriously doubt it.
- jack-r-abbit 13y ago
  Probably not many people are going to read a 72 page document about a topic when the media has already told us what to think. Sad but true.
- ossreality 13y ago
  In what way does that depict it as overblown? edit: Yeah, I skimmed it and it mentions most of the stuff that people are "blowing up" over... edit2: You assholes hell banning for no reason is one thing, but flat out not posting my replies is shitty. edit3: Would someone tell sdegutis to shut the hell up? We all know he is religious and anti-contraception and the rest of it. Stop trying to make it out like it's "distracting". You're just pathetic.
- ocfx 13y ago
  hater
- devilshaircut 13y ago
  "Both sides of the argument." That Russia has a reasonable political platform regarding its LGBT citizens? I am not sure that it is possible to 'blow out of proportion' what is most certainly a human rights issue. This was your own assertion, not that of the paper's. The topic was the Google Doodle showing support for LGBT people and your first impulse is to imply that the situation in Russia is in fact a non-issue. That is why you were downvoted, man.
  - boyter 13y ago
    I didn't say it was a non-issue. I said it was overblown. The current media coverage of the issue is overblown. I belive I am being down-voted because this is a sensitive issue. Anyone suggesting that perhaps its not as bad as it seems is instantly shouted down. Please, please, please read the linked white paper. It is well researched, well written and provides citations and sources to its conclusions. It is also written by a lawyer who identifies themselves as part of the LGBT community. If nothing else, scroll down and read the translation of the Russian Federation law in there (the only good version I could find) and really think on what it means to the individual.
deleted 13y ago
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- mavhc 13y ago
  Everything is a political statement to someone
  - deleted 13y ago
    [deleted]
    - rollo 13y ago
      I think you are. And what's the problem with political statements?
      - deleted 13y ago
        [deleted]
        devilshaircut 13y ago
        It is unfortunate that you are so willing to consume as 'politics' whatever topic political strategists have decided to include in their party's talking points. It is fortunate that said political strategists chose LGBT rights and not, say, the legality of JavaScript. Because then your Google search would have been a moot point entirely, JS having been made "political".
        deleted 13y ago
        [deleted]
  - devilshaircut 13y ago
    Agreed. Showing support for LGBT people == politics? Give me a BREAK.
    - deleted 13y ago
      [deleted]
justinzollars 13y ago
I'm proud the tech community is so solidly behind LGBT issues.
- pyrocat 13y ago
  LGB at least. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BKgdvjmFK4c/TwN5PxXVH1I/AAAAAAAAArs/4sOWo1Bpmv0/s1600/LGB-and-also-T-6501.png http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BKgdvjmFK4c/TwN5PxXVH1I/AAAAAAAAAr...
  - devilshaircut 13y ago
    Just LG I think many people would say, actually. I've come to the point where I think the acronym is silly. I think right now we are up to "LGBTQIAPK". I may be a little out of date on that. The fact is, some of the issues between the groups in the acronym are shared and some aren't. At one point in time, banding together for them was probably useful if not necessary. Today I think each group would be better going it alone, as they all have very unique concerns.
    - JulianMorrison 13y ago
      Our shared problem is patriarchy and gender roles. "Why would a man take the inferior role" is behind phobia of gay men and trans women. "Don't let a woman get out of her place, as a sex object for men" is behind phobia of lesbians and trans men. Banding together makes sense.
      - waps 13y ago
        With the exception of T in sports, unless they compete in their "old" gender. Men and women's bodies are different due to chemical reasons, not just looks. Transgender operations only change the looks, not the chemical reality underneath. So the outcome of that is obvious : either disallow people to choose gender in sports, or live with the knowledge that all female records will be broken by (ex-)men in no time whatsoever.
sethbannon 13y ago
For those unfamiliar with the issue of gay rights abuses in Russia, this article offers a fine history: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/comment/2013/12/gay-rights-and-putins-olympics.html http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/comment/2013/12/gay-ri...
- vidoc 13y ago
  Didn't Utah get the winter Olympics a few years ago ? :)
  - aray 13y ago
    Utah, while prohibiting gay marriage, nevertheless still let gay people meet (gatherings), distribute information, and speak publicly about the topic.
    - magicalist 13y ago
      And have pride parades[1] [1] http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/03/mormons-gay-pride-salt-lake-city http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/03/mormons-gay-pri...
    - osipov 13y ago
      Russia allows these things too except for the part of getting minors involved. EDIT: The Wikipedia article is full of hedging on this topic, e.g. - "According to _some commentators_..." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Russia#Bans_on_.22homosexual_propaganda_to_minors.22 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Russia#Bans_on_.... - "Under the statute it is _effectively illegal_", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Russia#National_laws http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Russia#National_... Since when did journalists become legal scholars? Shouldn't we evaluate laws based on legal outcomes, not on a journalist's speculation?
      - Lazare 13y ago
        This is absolutely false. From Wikipedia (with many, many, detailed citations and sources): "Under the statute it is effectively illegal to hold any gay pride events, speak in defense of gay rights, or say that gay relationships are equal to heterosexual relationships." You cannot hold a pride parade (a minor might see it); you cannot distribute brochures (a minor might read it); you cannot have a website (a minor might see it). The freedoms we take for granted in the West, limited though they may be, simply do not exist in Russia. Every single item that mentioned as something you can do in Utah is something you cannot do in Russia, by law. And that's not even touching on the more restrictive laws in many regions and cities, nor on the surge in hate crimes and other unofficial repression. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Russia#Bans_on_gay_propaganda http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Russia#Bans_on_g... (Although really, just google it; there's tons of info.)
ck2 13y ago
I realize the difference with Russia is that it is practically illegal for LGBT to exist but let's talk about the USA for a moment where 33 states refuse to consider legalizing gay marriage and a few are even testing of the idea of emergency suspending ALL marriages just so people who are gay cannot marry if they cannot be excluded separately. There are still plenty of places in the USA where you could be killed for being gay, the difference is not by the state but by individuals. So we are not exactly a shining beacon ourselves.
- mmanfrin 13y ago
  the difference is not by the state but by individuals. And therein lies the distinction. We still have a long way to go, but our laws are structured and being structured in a way that protects those rights. Even though some states might be trying to push back the tide of tolerance, the momentum is seriously in the direction of equal rights. Every country has idiots and bigots, but when a state sponsors such bigotry, then the light should be shined on those wrongs. Our ignoble idiots exonerate actions of legislators and leaders in Russia.
  - osipov 13y ago
    Did you know that in Russia you can't get fired for being gay? At the same time it is perfectly legal to do so in United States. When did it become legal in United States for gays to have sex? Kinda like in 2003...except 13 states have not repealed sodomy laws. By the way, sodomy is perfectly legal in Russia since 1993.
- olegious 13y ago
  From the white paper linked below- "Since 1993 gay sex was made legal in Russia, in 12 US States gay sex is a crime."
  - magicalist 13y ago
    This hasn't been true since 2003 due to Lawrence v. Texas.
  - 13y ago
Sergiu37 13y ago
Well the olympics already discriminates against mens in women competitions and vice versa. But anyway LGBT support or condamnations is pure bullshit and should not be in the Olympics. To much sex talking. Just because there's so much sexual media doesn't mean that the LGBT should get their part of the attention on the news. We should go the other way and talk less about sex in the media.
- devilshaircut 13y ago
  LGBT rights is not a topic inherently related to sex or sexual media. Just want to make that distinction.
- seivan 13y ago
  I guess it's not really your fault that you connect LGBT ot sex. Your society really did fail you.
  - deleted 13y ago
    [deleted]
    - mkr-hn 13y ago
      Sex is often the end result of emotional and physical attraction, but it's not the most important aspect.
    - devilshaircut 13y ago
      So, in parallel, Christianity, since it advocates the religious ceremony of marriage between a man and a woman, must also be inherently sexual in nature. I hope it is not too arrogant of me to assume that you are straight because I cannot fathom a gay person arriving at the conclusions you have arrived at. Working under this assumption, would you say then, that any relationship you had with a member of the opposite sex was inherently sexual in nature? Again, give me a break. You can love someone and want to be with them for the rest of your life and not want to have sex with them. It really isn't a stretch of the imagination.
paul_f 13y ago
I couldn't care less about anyone's sexual preference. But I find it wholly unfair that someone could change from a man to a woman and then compete against other women. That is something altogether different and should not be accepted in the Olympics in my opinion.
deleted 13y ago
[deleted]
- throwaway_yy2Di 13y ago
  Text editors are very opinionated. Emacs ships with tons of propaganda, including the complete text of rms' political manifesto; and Vim advocates for a charity in Uganda. edit to add: It's the GNU Manifesto, which is an appendix in emacs' Info node. https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_node/emacs/Manifesto.html#Manifesto https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_node/emacs/Ma... On Vim it's the startup splash screen: ~ Help poor children in Uganda! ~ type :help iccf<Enter> for information http://vimdoc.sourceforge.net/htmldoc/uganda.html http://vimdoc.sourceforge.net/htmldoc/uganda.html edit2: But that was an excellent choice of analogy, there was no need to delete it!
  - devilshaircut 13y ago
    Thank you for pointing this out. Saved me a lot of citations. You are, by the way, absolutely correct.
  - deleted 13y ago
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- deleted 13y ago
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taopao 13y ago
It's more than just the games. The laws are effectively sanctioning violence against gays. http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/02/03/russia-sochi-games-highlight-homophobic-violence http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/02/03/russia-sochi-games-highli...

104 points by coloneltcb 13y ago

tareqak 13y ago

Too bad encrypted.google.com doesn't have doodles.

pyromine 13y ago
It does for me...
zhemao 13y ago
What do you mean? It showed up for me on encrypted.google.com.
robotfelix 13y ago
It's not a doodle, it's a footer. And for those who for whatever reason cannot see it on Google, it reads: "The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practicing sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play." –Olympic Charter
- socksy 13y ago
  It's a doodle too, try going to a google homepage where it's the 7th already: http://google.ru http://google.ru http://google.co.uk http://google.co.uk etc

boyter 13y ago

The LGBT Russia thing is totally blown out of proportion. http://www.scribd.com/doc/203382931/Russian-Lgbt-Law-White-Paper http://www.scribd.com/doc/203382931/Russian-Lgbt-Law-White-P... Before you decide to down-vote me into oblivion and accuse me of hating minority groups please read the white paper linked above. Note I am not affiliated with the person who wrote it or scribd. I just want people to see both sides of the argument. EDIT - And what a surprise down-voted. Seriously did anyone clicking the down arrow actually read the paper? Considering how long it is and that this post is 5 minutes old I seriously doubt it.

jack-r-abbit 13y ago
Probably not many people are going to read a 72 page document about a topic when the media has already told us what to think. Sad but true.
ossreality 13y ago
In what way does that depict it as overblown? edit: Yeah, I skimmed it and it mentions most of the stuff that people are "blowing up" over... edit2: You assholes hell banning for no reason is one thing, but flat out not posting my replies is shitty. edit3: Would someone tell sdegutis to shut the hell up? We all know he is religious and anti-contraception and the rest of it. Stop trying to make it out like it's "distracting". You're just pathetic.
ocfx 13y ago
hater
devilshaircut 13y ago
"Both sides of the argument." That Russia has a reasonable political platform regarding its LGBT citizens? I am not sure that it is possible to 'blow out of proportion' what is most certainly a human rights issue. This was your own assertion, not that of the paper's. The topic was the Google Doodle showing support for LGBT people and your first impulse is to imply that the situation in Russia is in fact a non-issue. That is why you were downvoted, man.
- boyter 13y ago
  I didn't say it was a non-issue. I said it was overblown. The current media coverage of the issue is overblown. I belive I am being down-voted because this is a sensitive issue. Anyone suggesting that perhaps its not as bad as it seems is instantly shouted down. Please, please, please read the linked white paper. It is well researched, well written and provides citations and sources to its conclusions. It is also written by a lawyer who identifies themselves as part of the LGBT community. If nothing else, scroll down and read the translation of the Russian Federation law in there (the only good version I could find) and really think on what it means to the individual.

deleted 13y ago

[deleted]

mavhc 13y ago
Everything is a political statement to someone
- deleted 13y ago
  [deleted]
  - rollo 13y ago
    I think you are. And what's the problem with political statements?
    - deleted 13y ago
      [deleted]
      - devilshaircut 13y ago
        It is unfortunate that you are so willing to consume as 'politics' whatever topic political strategists have decided to include in their party's talking points. It is fortunate that said political strategists chose LGBT rights and not, say, the legality of JavaScript. Because then your Google search would have been a moot point entirely, JS having been made "political".
        deleted 13y ago
        [deleted]
- devilshaircut 13y ago
  Agreed. Showing support for LGBT people == politics? Give me a BREAK.
  - deleted 13y ago
    [deleted]

justinzollars 13y ago

I'm proud the tech community is so solidly behind LGBT issues.

pyrocat 13y ago
LGB at least. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BKgdvjmFK4c/TwN5PxXVH1I/AAAAAAAAArs/4sOWo1Bpmv0/s1600/LGB-and-also-T-6501.png http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BKgdvjmFK4c/TwN5PxXVH1I/AAAAAAAAAr...
- devilshaircut 13y ago
  Just LG I think many people would say, actually. I've come to the point where I think the acronym is silly. I think right now we are up to "LGBTQIAPK". I may be a little out of date on that. The fact is, some of the issues between the groups in the acronym are shared and some aren't. At one point in time, banding together for them was probably useful if not necessary. Today I think each group would be better going it alone, as they all have very unique concerns.
  - JulianMorrison 13y ago
    Our shared problem is patriarchy and gender roles. "Why would a man take the inferior role" is behind phobia of gay men and trans women. "Don't let a woman get out of her place, as a sex object for men" is behind phobia of lesbians and trans men. Banding together makes sense.
    - waps 13y ago
      With the exception of T in sports, unless they compete in their "old" gender. Men and women's bodies are different due to chemical reasons, not just looks. Transgender operations only change the looks, not the chemical reality underneath. So the outcome of that is obvious : either disallow people to choose gender in sports, or live with the knowledge that all female records will be broken by (ex-)men in no time whatsoever.

sethbannon 13y ago

For those unfamiliar with the issue of gay rights abuses in Russia, this article offers a fine history: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/comment/2013/12/gay-rights-and-putins-olympics.html http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/comment/2013/12/gay-ri...

vidoc 13y ago
Didn't Utah get the winter Olympics a few years ago ? :)
- aray 13y ago
  Utah, while prohibiting gay marriage, nevertheless still let gay people meet (gatherings), distribute information, and speak publicly about the topic.
  - magicalist 13y ago
    And have pride parades[1] [1] http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/03/mormons-gay-pride-salt-lake-city http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/03/mormons-gay-pri...
  - osipov 13y ago
    Russia allows these things too except for the part of getting minors involved. EDIT: The Wikipedia article is full of hedging on this topic, e.g. - "According to _some commentators_..." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Russia#Bans_on_.22homosexual_propaganda_to_minors.22 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Russia#Bans_on_.... - "Under the statute it is _effectively illegal_", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Russia#National_laws http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Russia#National_... Since when did journalists become legal scholars? Shouldn't we evaluate laws based on legal outcomes, not on a journalist's speculation?
    - Lazare 13y ago
      This is absolutely false. From Wikipedia (with many, many, detailed citations and sources): "Under the statute it is effectively illegal to hold any gay pride events, speak in defense of gay rights, or say that gay relationships are equal to heterosexual relationships." You cannot hold a pride parade (a minor might see it); you cannot distribute brochures (a minor might read it); you cannot have a website (a minor might see it). The freedoms we take for granted in the West, limited though they may be, simply do not exist in Russia. Every single item that mentioned as something you can do in Utah is something you cannot do in Russia, by law. And that's not even touching on the more restrictive laws in many regions and cities, nor on the surge in hate crimes and other unofficial repression. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Russia#Bans_on_gay_propaganda http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Russia#Bans_on_g... (Although really, just google it; there's tons of info.)

ck2 13y ago

I realize the difference with Russia is that it is practically illegal for LGBT to exist but let's talk about the USA for a moment where 33 states refuse to consider legalizing gay marriage and a few are even testing of the idea of emergency suspending ALL marriages just so people who are gay cannot marry if they cannot be excluded separately. There are still plenty of places in the USA where you could be killed for being gay, the difference is not by the state but by individuals. So we are not exactly a shining beacon ourselves.

mmanfrin 13y ago
the difference is not by the state but by individuals. And therein lies the distinction. We still have a long way to go, but our laws are structured and being structured in a way that protects those rights. Even though some states might be trying to push back the tide of tolerance, the momentum is seriously in the direction of equal rights. Every country has idiots and bigots, but when a state sponsors such bigotry, then the light should be shined on those wrongs. Our ignoble idiots exonerate actions of legislators and leaders in Russia.
- osipov 13y ago
  Did you know that in Russia you can't get fired for being gay? At the same time it is perfectly legal to do so in United States. When did it become legal in United States for gays to have sex? Kinda like in 2003...except 13 states have not repealed sodomy laws. By the way, sodomy is perfectly legal in Russia since 1993.
olegious 13y ago
From the white paper linked below- "Since 1993 gay sex was made legal in Russia, in 12 US States gay sex is a crime."
- magicalist 13y ago
  This hasn't been true since 2003 due to Lawrence v. Texas.
- 13y ago

Sergiu37 13y ago

Well the olympics already discriminates against mens in women competitions and vice versa. But anyway LGBT support or condamnations is pure bullshit and should not be in the Olympics. To much sex talking. Just because there's so much sexual media doesn't mean that the LGBT should get their part of the attention on the news. We should go the other way and talk less about sex in the media.

devilshaircut 13y ago
LGBT rights is not a topic inherently related to sex or sexual media. Just want to make that distinction.
seivan 13y ago
I guess it's not really your fault that you connect LGBT ot sex. Your society really did fail you.
- deleted 13y ago
  [deleted]
  - mkr-hn 13y ago
    Sex is often the end result of emotional and physical attraction, but it's not the most important aspect.
  - devilshaircut 13y ago
    So, in parallel, Christianity, since it advocates the religious ceremony of marriage between a man and a woman, must also be inherently sexual in nature. I hope it is not too arrogant of me to assume that you are straight because I cannot fathom a gay person arriving at the conclusions you have arrived at. Working under this assumption, would you say then, that any relationship you had with a member of the opposite sex was inherently sexual in nature? Again, give me a break. You can love someone and want to be with them for the rest of your life and not want to have sex with them. It really isn't a stretch of the imagination.

paul_f 13y ago

I couldn't care less about anyone's sexual preference. But I find it wholly unfair that someone could change from a man to a woman and then compete against other women. That is something altogether different and should not be accepted in the Olympics in my opinion.

deleted 13y ago

[deleted]

throwaway_yy2Di 13y ago
Text editors are very opinionated. Emacs ships with tons of propaganda, including the complete text of rms' political manifesto; and Vim advocates for a charity in Uganda. edit to add: It's the GNU Manifesto, which is an appendix in emacs' Info node. https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_node/emacs/Manifesto.html#Manifesto https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_node/emacs/Ma... On Vim it's the startup splash screen: ~ Help poor children in Uganda! ~ type :help iccf<Enter> for information http://vimdoc.sourceforge.net/htmldoc/uganda.html http://vimdoc.sourceforge.net/htmldoc/uganda.html edit2: But that was an excellent choice of analogy, there was no need to delete it!
- devilshaircut 13y ago
  Thank you for pointing this out. Saved me a lot of citations. You are, by the way, absolutely correct.
- deleted 13y ago
  [deleted]
- deleted 13y ago
  [deleted]
deleted 13y ago
[deleted]
- deleted 13y ago
  [deleted]

taopao 13y ago

It's more than just the games. The laws are effectively sanctioning violence against gays. http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/02/03/russia-sochi-games-highlight-homophobic-violence http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/02/03/russia-sochi-games-highli...