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| FILE - In this June 4, 2007, file photo, tennis champion Billie Jean King is introduced during a town hall conversation hosted by the group Women for Hillary in New York. The White House says King and U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul will join the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics next year in Sochi, Russia. |
President Barack Obama
sent Russia a clear message about its treatment of gays and lesbians
with who he is - and isn't - sending to represent the United States at
the Sochi Olympics.
Billie Jean King will be
one of two openly gay athletes in the U.S. delegation for the opening
and closing ceremonies, Obama announced Tuesday. For the first time
since 2000, however, the U.S. will not send a president, former
president, first lady or vice president to the Games.
Russia
has come under fierce criticism for passing national laws banning "gay
propaganda." Though the White House did not specifically address the
Russian laws in making its announcement, spokesman Shin Inouye said the
delegation "represents the diversity that is the United States" and that
Obama "knows they will showcase to the world the best of America -
diversity, determination and teamwork."
The White House said Obama's schedule will not permit him to attend the Games.
"It's
a positive sign to see openly gay representatives in the delegation,"
said Michael Cole-Schwartz, spokesman for the Human Rights Campaign,
which recently sent a letter urging Obama to include gays and lesbians
in the delegation. "Hopefully it sends a message to the Russian people
and the rest of the world that the United States values the civil and
human rights of LGBT people."
King said she was "deeply honored" to be named to the delegation.
"I
am equally proud to stand with the members of the LGBT community in
support of all athletes who will be competing in Sochi and I hope these
Olympic Games will indeed be a watershed moment for the universal
acceptance of all people," said King, who will attend the opening
ceremony.
Hockey player Caitlin Cahow is the other openly gay representative to the delegation. She'll attend the closing ceremony.
The
U.S. Olympic Committee made no comment about the sexual orientation of
the delegation. In a nod to its disapproval of the law, however, the
USOC recently revised its non-discrimination policy to include sexual
orientation.
France and Germany are among the other countries who will not send their presidents to Sochi for the Games.
Earlier
this year, Obama rejected the idea of a U.S. boycott of the Olympics
despite a number of differences with Russia, including the anti-gay law.
This
move, however, sends a strong signal: In 2010, Vice President Joe Biden
led the delegation, and in 2012, first lady Michelle Obama held the
honor.
This year's group is led by former
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. Others in the delegation
include U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul, figure skater Brian
Boitano and presidential adviser Rob Nabors.
King, the iconic tennis player, might be the most recognizable face in the group.
She's
a 39-time Grand Slam title winner (singles, doubles and mixed), a
recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and one of the most
prominent advocates of equality for women in sports and society over the
past several decades.
She'll attend the
Olympics in a country that is creating tension for several key players
because of the laws, including the International Olympic Committee,
which awarded the Games to Russia.
Earlier
this month, IOC President Thomas Bach said Russia would set up public
protest zones in Sochi for "people who want to express their opinion or
want to demonstrate for or against something."
Meanwhile,
the IOC approved a letter going out to athletes reminding them to
refrain from protests or political gestures during the Sochi Games -
reiterating Rule 50 of the Olympic charter, which forbids demonstrations
on Olympic grounds.
Bach had previously said
he'd received assurances from Russian President Vladimir Putin that gays
will not be discriminated against in Sochi. But the Russian law has
raised questions about what could happen to athletes who wear pins or
badges or carry flags supporting gay rights.
Earlier
this fall, skier Bode Miller was one of the few American athletes to
speak out against the Russian law, calling it "absolutely embarrassing."
