Google has taken a strong stand against Russia's anti-gay legislation by dedicating its Doodle to the Winter Olympics in Sochi with a gay flag and an equality quote from the Olympic Charter.
Google has a tradition to honor historic events through its popular Doodle on homepage. On Thursday, the web giant displayed a colorful logo showing support for gay rights, which conflicts with a newly implemented Russian law against public support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals. The new Doodle, which is also featured on Google's Russian web page, there is a quote from the Olympic Charter right below the doodle.
"The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practicing sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play," reads the quote on Google's homepage, emphasizing equality.
The Olympic Charter manages the fundamental principles and essential values of Olympism. The quote posted on Google's homepage is one of the seven Fundamental Principles of Olympism posted online on the Olympics.org website.
Russia's anti gay legislation, which was signed by President Vladimir Putin last year, takes effect in the Winter Olympic Games held in Sochi, Russia, from February 7 to February 23, 2014. The new law bans the public from spreading "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations" to minors and attracts fines for sharing these views online or in the news media. As a result, gay pride rallies have been called off in Russia.
Just before the Olympic Games commenced, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly spoke about equality for all, saying, "We must all raise our voices against attacks on LGBT individuals and oppose any arrests, or imprisonments faced by them."
Russia has widely been criticized for its stance on gay rights. Google's Doodle on Thursday ditched the company's traditional arrangement of colors and features them in a rainbow sequence resembling the gay flag. Clicking on Doodle takes a user to the trending news related to the Olympic Charter.
The Doodle features sports held in the Winter Olympics including downhill skiing, ice hockey, curling, bobsledding, figure skating and snowboarding.
