USMS should say Nyet to homophobia!

RE: USMS should say Nyet to homophobia!

Former Member — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 17:02:32 GMT

Homosexuality is immoral. The vast majority of people in world history agree with me. God also agrees with me.

RE: USMS should say Nyet to homophobia!

Former Member — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 12:49:44 GMT

The vast majority of people in world history agree with me. History=past, not present or future.

RE: USMS should say Nyet to homophobia!

knelson — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 12:16:58 GMT

And there it is. We all knew it was coming.

RE: USMS should say Nyet to homophobia!

knelson — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 11:57:56 GMT

And this means exactly what? That someone who feels just as passionately as the OP on the subject (only in opposition) somehow needs to be pointed out as if they are a leper,or somehow deficient in social graces? Not all of "We" feel the same way you do. Tolerance is a virtue, not a weapon. I believe people have the right to say what they want and I also have the right to pass judgment on people based on the things they say. As simple as that, really.

RE: USMS should say Nyet to homophobia!

__steve__ — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 11:28:00 GMT

Despite all this controversy, Popov was still the king

RE: USMS should say Nyet to homophobia!

Rob Copeland — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 06:20:41 GMT

And before anyone writes something that will get them banned. This thread is closed.

RE: USMS should say Nyet to homophobia!

Michael Heather — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 01:53:55 GMT

Hmm.. I'm not the smartest person in the room, but if my recent interpretation in reading SWIMMER magazine issues is even remotely correct, USMS has taken a very political stand on this issue. While I have no reason to argue with your intellectual output, I would point out that articles written for the magazine do not have to pass muster by the USMS board of directors. In fact, they rarely know what will be in the next issue. Reporting on the makeup and activities of any particular club hardly represents a political stand. And there it is. We all knew it was coming. And this means exactly what? That someone who feels just as passionately as the OP on the subject (only in opposition) somehow needs to be pointed out as if they are a leper,or somehow deficient in social graces? Not all of "We" feel the same way you do. Tolerance is a virtue, not a weapon.

RE: USMS should say Nyet to homophobia!

Former Member — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 06:12:17 GMT

...read the mission statement of USMS. It is a fitness and education organization, not a political front... Hmm.. I'm not the smartest person in the room, but if my recent interpretation in reading SWIMMER magazine issues is even remotely correct, USMS has taken a very political stand on this issue.

RE: USMS should say Nyet to homophobia!

Former Member — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 15:58:26 GMT

Since World Masters will be held at the same venue as FINA Worlds, USMS has pretty much zero say in where the meet will be held.

RE: USMS should say Nyet to homophobia!

gobears — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 11:35:52 GMT

If wanting to ensure the safety and security of all athletes is an agenda, then I guess I'm guilty. Sadly, there doesn't seem to be a PAC for that. ;) Sad that even this kind of thing becomes political :(

RE: USMS should say Nyet to homophobia!

JPSWMCCH — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 11:11:41 GMT

Think that having events such as these, including everyone, may truly affect homophobic laws/cultures/religions/countries that have laws against homosexuality. I think what changed US views are the brave people who came out, spoke up, showed up, despite archaic laws! With the IOC's decision, have there been many problems with Russia's laws at the Olympics? In many ways, the international, public media exposure can be educational to less open cultures...and maybe even freeing to those who may have to hide their private sexuality in those countries!

RE: USMS should say Nyet to homophobia!

sydned — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 09:31:39 GMT

If wanting to ensure the safety and security of all athletes is an agenda, then I guess I'm guilty. Sadly, there doesn't seem to be a PAC for that. ;)

RE: USMS should say Nyet to homophobia!

gigi — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 07:57:22 GMT

I I agree, Kazan is not the place for WOrld Masters. I'm in no position ($)to travel internationally (I'll barely make it to Montreal this summer) so it's no great sacrifice for me to say I won't be going to Kazan, but even if I could afford it, I wouldn't want to go to a place where my brothers and sisters didn't feel safe. No way. The comparison to the 1980 Olympics doesn't really hold since no one is telling USMS swimmers they can't go - I'm just hoping that not many do.

RE: USMS should say Nyet to homophobia!

Michael Heather — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 11:13:24 GMT

First of all, this thread should not be in the swimming-related section. It is a politically and socially charged topic that only tends to create heated rhetoric. That all being said, read the mission statement of USMS. It is a fitness and education organization, not a political front. It would be a huge mistake for USMS to take an official stand on the decision of FINA, no matter how reprehensible it may seem (and FINA has made some stinkers). If you have a personal issue with the location, or your political action group has some issue, feel free to write a letter to FINA and complain. What makes you think that USMS should take a stand at all on your behalf, or for that matter, for any group other than USMS? Allen has it right, if you don't like it, don't go. Leave USMS out of it. It had no say in the decision, it has no sway to get FINA to do, cancel or change anything. Actually, no one does.

RE: USMS should say Nyet to homophobia!

mmlr38 — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 09:09:01 GMT

Vote with your pocketbook,don't go!!!!!!!!! My thoughts exactly!

RE: USMS should say Nyet to homophobia!

Allen Stark — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 08:41:16 GMT

Boycotting the Olympics and boycotting the FINA Championships are 2 totally different things.I think Olympic boycotts are a terrible idea as this article says better than I can www.cracked.com/.../ .Boycotting the 1980 Olympics is indirectly responsible for each country getting only 2 swimmers per event.The IOC and FINA shouldn't reward Russia with big events,but they do.While I have tremendous respect for athletes,I can't say the same about the ruling bodies. In the FINA championships, competitors will be spending their own money and putting it into this disreputable system. Vote with your pocketbook,don't go!!!!!!!!!

RE: USMS should say Nyet to homophobia!

gobears — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 08:21:17 GMT

This report about the persecution of gay men in Russia is sure disturbing (warning - graphic violence): www.upworthy.com/here-is-the-shocking-footage-of-gay-men-being-beaten-on-camera-in-russia I don't know what USMS will do but I personally wouldn't want to support a meet in a country where this kind of thing isn't being put to an end...

RE: USMS should say Nyet to homophobia!

sydned — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 08:02:30 GMT

But we ARE talking about those very athletes. If I were an LGBTQ athlete, I would not feel safe competing in that environment, and for our organization to participate is an endorsement of segregating and leaving out a percentage of our membership in a way that I cannot abide. ALL of our members should feel safe and free to participate, something that cannot happen in this setting. Where then, is the fairness and spirit of equal competition?

RE: USMS should say Nyet to homophobia!

StewartACarroll — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 07:48:29 GMT

Despite supporting equal rights for all I have never understood why sporting events should become the platform upon which political and social injustice are protested. I hate the injustice being demonstrated by the Russian government but why should athletes boycott a sporting event like the world masters championship? In my opinion boycotting the Olympics in 1980 had no affect, and boycotting the masters worlds will have no affect either. The only people who directly are affected by boycotts are the athletes who miss out on the opportunity to compete. I support the cause but not the solution you are proposing.