CNN Op-Ed: Make Olympics in Russia the Gayest Ever

Not to beat a dead horse, but I would like to see the International Olympic Committee ("IOC") move the 2014 Winter Games out of Russia and leave Vladimir Putin and his fellow Neanderthals with a show place venue that no one ever sees.  The chances of the IOC actually having the spine to make such a move are probably remote - a bowl of Jell-O has more backbone - since this is the same committee that allowed Hitler to propagandize the 1936 Olympics.  So what should one do?  One CNN columnist is urging athletes to rub Putin's face in it if you will by making a major pro-gay scene at the opening ceremonies and throughout the games to underscore world disapproval of Russia.  It would be precisely what Putin doesn't want: either athletes are arrested creating a major stink and negative media coverage or he's humiliated by the deliberate flouting of Russia's hate motivated anti-gay laws.  It would be a lose, lose situation for Putin and his henchmen in the Russian Duma.  Here are column highlights:

You don't have to be gay or even Russian to feel the wrath of the Russian government's homophobia. You could go to jail if you are "pro-gay," whatever that means. And that's under just one of a growing number of hate-infused bills becoming law at a time when, as it happens, Russia is preparing to host the world in the next Winter Olympics.

The perverse anti-gay legislation is inflaming an atmosphere of persistent intimidation and at times deadly violence against Russian gays and lesbians.  The question now is: What should the rest of the world do?

The world has an opportunity to let Putin -- who signed all the laws -- and the politicians he dominates know just how repulsive their actions are. There is a chance of helping Russia LGBT activists persuade the government to reverse the most offensive legislation.

An Olympic boycott might not be the best way to go. Instead, let's turn the Winter Games into the gayest games in history.

Let the Russian police, if they want, arrest every athlete, every coach from Europe, North American, Australia and other forward-looking countries -- that includes you, Uruguay, Brazil, Mexico and South Africa. The teams should march during the opening ceremonies brandishing rainbow flags, holding hands, proclaiming that every one of them supports equal rights for gay and lesbians -- in Russia and everywhere else. Make it an "I am Spartacus" moment for the world.

Let Putin arrest them all.

And as for going as a tourist to the Sochi Olympics: Forget it. Russian lawmakers are making that boycott a no-brainer.

Olympic sponsors NBC, Visa, Coca-Cola, Panasonic, Procter & Gamble and others also have a responsibility to push against these blatant violations of human rights.

Keep in mind that Russian laws are encouraging vigilante "justice" against gays and lesbians.

Just imagine the sweeps of athletes, trainers and tourists, rounded up and sent to Russian prisons because they believe gays and lesbians should be treated like everyone else.

Some think the witch hunt against gays shows Putin is trying to deflect attention as the economy slows down and perhaps playing defense against opposition accusations that his friends have stolen as much as $30 billion in money earmarked for the Olympics.

The columnist has a point.  If done right, making the Olympics super gay would be a PR disaster for Putin who would face a populace that would have seen their country humiliated.  And the fingers would be pointing to Putin and the Russian Orthodox Church as the parties responsible.  I like the idea, provided athletes and better yet, entire teams would have the courage to give Putin the equivalent of the middle finger.