RUSSIA: Judge Bans "Pride House" For Athletes At 2014 Sochi Olympics

Saying it would endanger local children and lead to the destruction of the federation, a Russian judge has banned the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics from creating a Pride House for gay and gay-friendly athletes.

"The aims of the organization contradict the basics of public morality and the policy of the state in the area of family motherhood and childhood protection,’ said Svetlana Mordovina in her ruling. The judge continued: ‘The activities of the [Pride House] movement leads to propaganda of non-traditional sexual orientation which can undermine the security of the Russian society and the state, provoke social-religious hatred, which is the feature of the extremist character of the activity. ‘Moreover it can undermine the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation due to the decrease of Russia’s population. ‘Such aims as creating an understanding of the necessity to fight against homophobia and the creation of positive attitudes towards LGBT sportsmen contradicts with the basics of public morality because they are directed towards the increase of the number of citizens of sexual minorities which breaches the understanding of good and evil, good and bad, vice and virtue,’ Mordovina concluded.

The Pride House at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics was considered a huge success and garnered heavy positive press coverage. Russian gay activists have vowed to take their case to the International Olympic Commission.