What will the “Billie Jean Delegation” mean for LGBT Rights in Sochi?

[xchrom]

http://www.thenation.com/blog/177659/what-will-billie-jean-delegation-mean-lgbt-rights-sochi

Anyone who opposes the draconian anti-Gay laws in Russia, and supports the emerging movement of LGBT athletes in the sports world, should take serious note of the latest news out of Washington DC. President Barack Obama’s White House has chosen their official delegation for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi. For the first time since 2000, this group will not include a current or former President or Vice President. Instead, the faces representing of the United States will include out-and-proud tennis legend Billie Jean King and out-and-proud two-time Olympic hockey player Caitlin Cahow.

Both King and Cahow are far more than just people who happen to be “part of the LGBT community.” King has been a fearless activist over the course of decades on a host of issues from labor rights to women’s reproductive freedom. On the issue of making sure Sochi is a platform of LGBT resistance she is as unafraid as one would expect, saying that she is not only "deeply honored" to be part of the delegation but is also "equally proud to stand with the members of the LGBT community in support of all athletes who will be competing in Sochi… I hope these Olympic games will indeed be a watershed moment for the universal acceptance of all people."

King was chosen even though she made an explicit plea for athletes to defy the International Olympic Committee’s decree against political statements in Sochi, saying in September, "Sometimes I think we need a John Carlos moment.” This was a reference to the great 1968 Olympian who along with Tommie Smith raised his fist for civil rights on the 200 meter medal stand.

Caitlin Cahow’s story is far less known than “the legend of Billie Jean” but she is also more than an athlete. Cahow is an activist who is part of what is known as the Principle 6 Campaign. This is a movement that aims to pressure the craven International Olympic Committee to actually enforce Principle 6 of its own charter which states, "Sports does not discriminate on grounds of race, religion, gender, politics or otherwise." Their work has already pushed the IOC to state that “otherwise” includes sexual orientation.

[clydefrand]

1. To the rest of the world,

it will mean a lot. To the Soviet Union, it will be Obama giving them a much needed 'slap-in-the-face'.

[riqster]

2. It's a bitch-slap to KGB man Pootie-Poot.

And it puts Putin in an untenable position. Pretty effective in the near term.