Sen. Jeff Merkley to introduce Senate resolution asking IOC for guarantees protecting LGBT Olympic athletes in Sochi

Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon will introduce a Senate resolution addressing possible LGBT discrimination during the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games:

The resolution will ask the IOC both to oppose the law itself and to receive a guarantee that athletes and spectators will not be discriminated against on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity at the Sochi Winter Olympics, Merkley spokesman Jamal Raad said. The language is still being finalized, however, and he said the resolution will not be introduced formally until the Senate returns from its August recess.

The resolution would be the Senate’s first formal statement regarding the Russian law, which was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in June.

This comes after receiving conflicting reports from the IOC and from Russian officials on the issue.

The IOC says they have received assurances “from the highest level of government in Russia that the legislation will not affect those attending or taking part in the Games,” while Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko told R-Sport Thursday that Russia’s anti-LGBT propaganda law would remain in effect during the Sochi Olympics in February 2014.

“No one is forbidding an athlete with non-traditional sexual orientation from coming to Sochi, but if he goes onto the street and starts propagandizing it, then of course he will be held accountable,” Mutko told R-Sport.

The legislation, signed into law by Russian President Vladimir Putin this June, authorizes the 15-day jailing of foreigners and fines for both foreigners and Russians who are convicted of “promotion of non-traditional sexual relations among minors.”

(via Buzzfeed)