News
Will U.S. delegation to Russian Olympics include LGBT leaders?
Pressure builds on U.S. to respond to Putin’s anti-gay crackdown
Groups are calling for LGBT-inclusion in the U.S. delegation to the Olympic games. (Photo by Ben Dauphinee; courtesy Wikimedia Commons)
Several advocacy groups are calling on the White House to include LGBT leaders and athletes as part of the U.S. delegation to the upcoming Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia amid concerns over an ongoing anti-gay crackdown in the country.
Joining Human Rights First in its call for LGBT inclusion are the Human Rights Campaign and the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force as well as U.S. groups that work on international LGBT issues: the Council for Global Equality and All Out.
Fred Sainz, HRC’s vice president of communications, added the name of the nation’s largest LGBT advocacy group on Monday to the voices calling for LGBT inclusion in the U.S. delegation via an email to the Washington Blade.
“We do believe that LGBT participation in the delegation is essential,” Sainz said. “We’ve recommended to the White House in the strongest of ways that LGBT representation sends a potent message about the American culture of an inclusive democracy.”
The calls for LGBT inclusion in the U.S. delegation to Sochi follow multiple developments that have earned Russia a reputation as being hostile to human rights generally — and LGBT rights in particular.
Among the concerns regarding LGBT rights is the law passed unanimously by the State Duma banning pro-gay propaganda to minors and another law prohibiting the adoption of Russian children by couples from countries with marriage equality.
Reports of anti-LGBT violence in the country also continue to emerge. The Moscow Times reported on Sunday that Moscow’s largest gay club sought protection from the Russian government against repeated attacks, including one on Saturday in which 100 people seized the attic of the building and fully dismantled the roof.
Late last month, the U.S.-based group Human Rights First sent a letter to Valerie Jarrett, senior adviser to President Obama, asking the White House to include LGBT people as part of the as-yet unnamed U.S. delegation to Russia to signal support for LGBT rights.
Shawn Gaylord, advisory counsel to Human Rights First, said he believes the request is being taken seriously based on meetings last week at the White House and the State Department in which the organization brought Russian activists to meet with administration officials .
“The questions around the delegation came up at those meetings as well,” Gaylord said. “We were able to basically reiterate our ask in those meetings — that’s pretty much it — and it was clear they were aware of our request.”
Among the LGBT individuals that LGBT advocates have mentioned to the Blade as possibilities for inclusion in the delegation are any of the openly gay U.S. ambassadors or an openly gay member of Congress, such as Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), who serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
LGBT athletes have also been named as potential individuals who could be included as part of the U.S. delegation to Russia. Among them is Greg Louganis, a gay former Olympic diver who has called for protests of Russia’s anti-gay laws during the Olympics, and lesbian tennis player Martina Navratilova. Lesbian singer Melissa Etheridge told the Blade she’d go to Sochi “with bells on” to attend the Olympics.
Joe Mirabella, director of campaigns for the LGBT international grassroots group All Out, said the U.S. delegation to the Olympics should include LGBT people not just as a symbolic gesture against Russia’s anti-gay climate, but also to reflect the diversity of Americans.
“If Russia were a perfect-case scenario and everybody was treated equally, I still think that LGBT people should be included,” Mirabella said. “But it’s particularly important, given the crackdown on human rights, that the United States and other countries show leadership in this area.”
It’s unclear when the White House will announce the delegation to the Olympics. Even though the games are two months away, no announcements have been made. The situation was different prior to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, when the White House announced first lady Michelle Obama would lead the U.S. delegation four months ahead of time.
In the past week, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney has faced questions on the composition of the delegation during each of three consecutive briefings. On Monday, he wouldn’t explain why a delegation has yet to be named when asked about the apparent delay by Buzzfeed’s Evan McMorris-Santoro.
“I don’t have any updates on the answer I gave to that question last week, which is that when we have a delegation to announce, we’ll announce it, but no new information to provide today,” Carney said.
Mark Bromley, chair of the Council for Global Equality, predicted an announcement would happen in January, saying his group has told the administration the delegation should consist of a strong representation of minorities, including LGBT people.
“We also hope to see the inclusion of LGBT athletes in the delegation, who could speak athlete-to-athlete to Olympians in Sochi, and of course, we would be delighted to see LGBT officials participate in the delegation,” Bromley said.
At the same time that calls are being made to include LGBT people in the U.S. delegation, leaders in countries have said they’re skipping the Olympics altogether. A number of European officials have already signaled they won’t attend the games amid concern over Russia’s human rights record.
Without explaining the decision further, French President Francois Hollande and other French officials announced they wouldn’t attend the Olympics. German President Joachim Gauck and European Union commissioner Viviane Reding earlier made similar announcements.
It’s possible that any LGBT person selected to attend the games would face criticism and accusations their attendance gives the appearance of tacit approval of the anti-gay atmosphere in Russia.
Gay singer Elton John was criticized for making a concert appearance in Russia as was gay MSNBC news anchor Thomas Roberts for hosting the 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. During an event last week on Capitol Hill, Louganis lashed out at both of them and told the Blade they were a “feather in Putin’s cap.”
John Aravosis, editor of AMERICAblog, said endorsing the idea of LGBT people going as part of the U.S. delegation to Russia was a “tough call” and added that no one from the Obama family should attend.
“I’m not sure anyone should be attending,” Aravosis said. “Certainly not anyone with the last name Obama, nor anyone who has aspirations to be our next president in 2016. If there’s a delegation at all, it’s not a terrible idea to have someone on it who’s gay or trans and outspoken about Russia. We don’t need another Johnny Weir, and Thomas Roberts has hardly been a profile in courage either.”
Human Rights First’s Gaylord said the situation with the U.S. delegation is different because unlike with Roberts or John, someone has to represent the United States at the Olympics — even though they may face criticism.
“There may be people who take that viewpoint,” Gaylord said. “We certainly at Human Rights First didn’t criticize, or really take a position on something like the Miss Universe pageant. One difference may be there does need to be a delegation named, and so in that context, having an LGBT person in that delegation, at least one LGBT person, makes a lot of sense.”
Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, said LGBT inclusion in the U.S. delegation to Russia would send an important message about American values.
“As Putin tries to marginalize Russian LGBT people with his outrageous policies and laws, it’s important that LGBT voices are represented in our nation’s official delegation to the Olympics,” Carey said. “This speaks volumes about U.S. leadership, how much progress we’ve made to deliver freedom and justice for LGBT people, and offers hope to those who are facing the most appalling oppression in Russia and other parts of the world.”
UPDATE: This article has been updated after it was posted to include a comment from Rea Carey of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force.
Congress
Top Democrats re-introduce trans bill of rights
Lawmakers spoke outside US Capitol on Wednesday
U.S. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and U.S. Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), and Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) announced the reintroduction of a “Trans Bill of Rights” on Wednesday.
Despite chilling winds and snow on the ground, transgender activists, LGBTQ rights advocates, and trans-supporting lawmakers gathered outside the U.S. Capitol to announce the reintroduction of the “Transgender Bill of Rights” resolution to protect trans Americans, as the Trump-Vance administration continues to target LGBTQ Americans.
About 30 people gathered outside to hear from legislators and individuals impacted by recent White House policies.
“Today we say loud and clear that trans rights are human rights, and they must be protected every single day of every single year,” Markey told the crowd. “We stand together in solidarity with the trans community and with those who have too often been left behind by a system that refuses to recognize their humanity. We are here to ensure that every trans and gender-diverse person in America can live freely and safely and authentically. That’s what the Trans Bill of Rights is all about.”
Markey is leading the resolution on the Senate side, while Jayapal is pushing it forward in the House.
“With the Trans Bill of Rights, we are laying out a comprehensive vision to provide protections for transgender and nonbinary people — a vision that ensures every single person has a chance to thrive,” Jayapal said. “A vision that says: you are us, you belong, and you are worthy of the same rights as everyone else. This bill supports amending the Civil Rights Act to ensure that trans people have the same rights and protections as all other Americans. It creates a level playing field where trans people no longer have to fight tooth and nail to get the same treatment as their cisgender friends.”
The resolution for House and the Senate reads:
“Recognizing that it is the duty of the federal government to develop and implement a Transgender Bill of Rights to protect and codify the rights of transgender and nonbinary people under the law and ensure their access to medical care, shelter, safety, and economic security.”
Trans Legislation Tracker, an independent research organization that collects data on anti-trans legislation from the hyper-local level to the floor of the U.S. Senate, found that in 2025, 1,022 measures were proposed across the country to restrict the rights of trans Americans — from health care removals to bathroom bans.
Markey directly called out those lawmakers for what he described as discriminatory actions taken against trans Americans who, as he pointed out, are fighting for rights that everyone else is inherently given.
“Trump and MAGA Republicans have used the power of government to spread fear and hate across our country. They have tried to ban lifesaving and medically necessary health care, strip anti-discrimination protections, and turn trans lives into political talking points for their benefit. Well, we have a message for them: we are louder, we are stronger, and we are not going anywhere. We’re in this fight for the long term,” the Massachusetts senator said.
Jacobs, a co-chair of the Transgender Equality Task Force within the Congressional Equality Caucus, also spoke at the event.
“Trans Americans are being targeted just for being who they are — by laws and court decisions that try to erase them from classrooms, from courts and fields, from health care and public life. These attacks aren’t about safety or fairness,” Jacobs said. “They’re about hatred and instilling fear. And we know how quickly fear can warp into suspicion and violence with deadly consequences.”
In addition to lawmakers, trans Americans and supporters spoke.
Olivia Hunt from Advocates for Trans Equality, LaLa Zannell from the American Civil Liberties Union, as well as three additional people who have been actively harmed by the ongoing wave of anti-trans legislation, shared their stories.
Hunt emphasized the staggeringly high number of anti-trans bills being introduced in statehouses across the country — despite trans adults making up less than 1 percent of the population, according to the Williams Institute’s 2025 data.
“Since 2020, thousands of anti-LGBTQIA+ bills have been introduced in statehouses across the country,” Hunt said. “It’s a veritable tidal wave of political bullying disguised as legislation, and most of these bills specifically target transgender and nonbinary people — especially trans youth and their families. This is a moment that demands action.”
Hunt, who is trans, helps trans people in D.C. obtain legal documents that match their gender identity — something the Trump-Vance administration has stopped.
“Trans youth deserve to be protected by their government. They shouldn’t have to be protected from their government,” she said. “It’s long past time that our federal laws reflect and protect the reality and dignity of all people. Trans people have always existed — we are your neighbors, your family members, your community — and we belong.”
Zannell, who spoke proudly about her trans identity, explained why the bill is necessary and how it would protect trans people in all facets of their lives.
“I stand here as an unapologetic Black trans woman who has led this movement for over a decade to get us to moments like this. The reintroduction of the Trans Bill of Rights will aim to protect access to gender-affirming care, prevent discrimination in housing and public spaces, and preserve legal recognition,” Zannell said. “My hope is that this affirms our government’s duty to protect all trans and nonbinary people.”
The Transgender Bill of Rights is cosponsored in the Senate by U.S. Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).
In the U.S. House of Representatives, the resolution is led by Jayapal, co-led by Jacobs and U.S. Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), with nearly 100 other representatives signing on as co-sponsors.
“To all trans people across the United States: you are seen, you are valued, and you are loved,” said Markey. “And I want you to know there are people who will fight for you every single day on the floor of the House and Senate to win those rights for you.”
Senegal
A dozen Senegalese men arrested for ‘unnatural acts’
Popular journalist and musician among those taken into custody
Senegalese police have charged a dozen men with committing “unnatural acts.”
The New York Times reported Pape Cheikh Diallo, a popular television reporter, and Djiby Dramé, a musician, are among the men who authorities arrested. They appeared in court in Dakar, the Senegalese capital, on Monday.
Le Soleil, a Senegalese newspaper, reported authorities arrested the men on Feb. 6 “for intentional transmission of HIV, unnatural acts, criminal conspiracy, and endangering others.” The newspaper further notes the men have been placed in “pre-trial detention.”
Senegal is among the countries in which consensual same-sex sexual relations remain criminalized.
Police in Kaolack, a town that is roughly 135 miles southeast of Dakar, in 2015 arrested 11 people who allegedly engaged in same-sex sexual acts during “a celebration of a gay marriage.” The National Assembly in 2021 rejected a bill that would have further criminalized homosexuality in the country.
Local
Local LGBTQ groups, activists to commemorate Black History Month
Rayceen Pendarvis to moderate Dupont Underground panel on Sunday
LGBTQ groups in D.C. and elsewhere plan to use Black History Month as an opportunity to commemorate and celebrate Black lives and experiences.
Team Rayceen Productions has no specific events planned, but co-founder Rayceen Pendarvis will attend many functions around D.C. this month.
Pendarvis, a longtime voice in the LGBTQ community in D.C. will be moderating a panel at Dupont Underground on Sunday. The event, “Every (Body) Wants to Be a Showgirl,” will feature art from Black burlesque artists from around the country. Pendarvis on Feb. 23 will attend the showing of multimedia play at the Lincoln Theatre that commemorates the life of James Baldwin.
Equality Virginia plans to prioritize Black voices through a weekly online series, and community-based story telling. The online digital series will center Black LGBTQ voices, specifically trailblazers and activists, and contemporary Black queer and transgender people.
Narissa Rahaman, Equality Virginia’s executive director, stressed the importance of the Black queer community to the overall Pride movement, and said “Equality Virginia is proud to center those voices in our work this month and beyond.”
The Capital Pride Alliance, which hosts Pride events in D.C., has an alliance with the Center for Black Equity, which brings Black Pride to D.C. over Memorial Day weekend. The National LGBTQ Task Force has no specific Black History Month events planned, but plans to participate in online collaborations.
Cathy Renna, the Task Force’s director of communications, told the Washington Blade the organization remains committed to uplifting Black voices. “Our priority is keeping this at the forefront everyday,” she said.
The D.C. LGBTQ+ Community Center is also hosting a series of Black History Month events.
The D.C. Public Library earlier this year launched “Freedom and Resistance,” an exhibition that celebrates Black History Month and Martin Luther King Jr. It will remain on display until the middle of March at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library at 901 G St., N.W.
Top Democrats re-introduce trans bill of rights
A dozen Senegalese men arrested for ‘unnatural acts’
Meet D.C.’s Most Eligible Queer Singles
Local LGBTQ groups, activists to commemorate Black History Month
