Vision Vancouver Coun. Tim Stevenson will represent the City of Vancouver at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Russia, despite that country’s sometimes violent track record on LGBTQ rights.
Vision Mayor Gregor Robertson made the announcement Wednesday, after much discussion on how the city should respond to recent events in Russia.
In June, Russian president Vladimir Putin signed a bill classifying “homosexual propaganda” as pornography. The new bill criminalizes public discussion of homosexuality, especially with foreigners. As a result, Russian members of the LGBT community took to the streets in what started out as peaceful protests but quickly turned into bloody clashes with police.
Stevenson, who is gay, told the Courier his goal is to address the International Olympic Committee and convince members that human rights regarding sexual orientation must be enshrined into its charter.
“It’s too late for Russia,” said Stevenson, who will represent Vancouver in Sochi as the deputy mayor. “But maybe if this had already been in place, Russia might not have even bid on the Games.”
Stevenson said because Vancouver was the host city of the last Winter Olympic Games in 2010, it has a greater responsibility to speak out against human rights violations. Stevenson will speak to members of the IOC about ensuring a “Pride House” is created at every Olympic
Games going forward. During the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, Pride House acted as a safe space for LGBTQ athletes and visitors from countries with laws against homosexuality. The Pride House locations in Vancouver and Whistler also offered services for LGBTQ visitors from those countries seeking refugee status.
Joining Stevenson on the trip to Sochi in February are former Vancouver Olympic Committee project manager Maureen Douglas and Pride House co-founder Dean Nelson. The contingent will arrive in Sochi several days before the start of the Games, which is when members of the IOC typically meet and when Stevenson hopes to address the organization.
Their trip is paid through private contributions from a fund created by the city and kicked off by $25,000 donations each from realtor Bob Rennie and developer Peter Wall. Both have contributed large sums of money to past Vision Vancouver campaigns.
Stevenson doesn’t plan to break any laws while in Russia, but when asked if his goal of publicly addressing the IOC with his concerns might be in conflict with that country’s new “homosexual propaganda” bill, he hesitated.
“I hope not, but whether they interpret it way and throw me in the gulag will have to be seen,” said Stevenson of the infamous forced labour camps of the Soviet era. “If that happens, send me Purdy’s chocolates. I like the dark one.”
Stevenson is well aware of the dangers he could face as an openly gay man speaking publicly in favour of LGBTQ rights in Russia.
“But I know I’ll have at least one person praying for my safety while I’m there,” said Stevenson of his husband Gary Paterson, who is a United Church minister. “I’ll be there as the deputy mayor of the past Olympic city and hope I’ll be treated in accordance.”
sthomas@vancourier.com
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