LGBT Groups Slam USOC

The Human Rights Campaign and All Out are criticizing the United States Olympic Committee, who last week added sexual orientation to their non-discrimination policy.

From the HRC:

“We welcome the news that the USOC has added sexual orientation to the non-discrimination policy in its code of conduct, and hope this is a sign of more good things to come. However, given the fact that the very same code of conduct requires that athletes adhere to foreign laws, this new non-discrimination policy becomes moot the second athletes arrive to Sochi,” HRC vice president of communications Fred Sainz told BuzzFeed.

From All Out:

“Despite their best intentions, the USOC non-discrimination policy and the IOC’s Charter will be toothless as long as Russia’s anti-gay propaganda law remains in place. The USOC and IOC should press for the repeal before the 2014 Sochi Games,” Andre Banks, the executive director of All Out told BuzzFeed. “It’s not too late. China made serious concessions ahead of Beijing to ensure the [2008 Olympic] Games were consistent with international standards and Russia should not be exempt from doing the same.”

The USOC: "We do not think it is our role to advocate for a change in the Russian law."