January 20, 2014--Baring It All

As we know, Vladimir Putin is in all sorts of trouble because of his views about gay people. Not just his personal views, but also his official ones.

He got his rubber-stamp parliament to pass legislation last year prohibiting "propaganda of nontraditional sexual practices" among minors.

The law has been used to ban gay right demonstrations because children might see them, and it bars discussion of homosexual issues on TV and in newspapers out of concern that children could hear or read about homosexuality and, presumable, as a result, themselves become gay.

As if homosexuality is something one catches. Like the flu.

If it weren't for the fact that the Winter Olympics are just a few weeks away and will take place in Sochi, Russia, this would probably be a two-day story in the United States. We have other important issues to focus on. For example, Chris Christie's closing of a few lanes to the George Washington Bridge and why Robert Redford wasn't nominated for an Academy Award.

But a number of gay Olympians from the U.S. and elsewhere are planning to participate in the winter games and, who knows, maybe wear something purple to protest Putin's homophobia and bigotry.

While thinking about Putin's obsession with gayness, I was reminded of this picture. And then I understood.

Under pressure, though, Putin this past weekend assured gay athletes that his secret police will not interfere with them while they are in Sochi. That is as long as they "just leave kids alone."