Google Doodle Offers Support to LGBT Community Ahead of Sochi 2014

Google has voiced its opposition to the Russian anti-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transexual) laws that ban the “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations” ahead of the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi today, with its latest Google doodle.

Visitors to Google’s homepage are greeted by a montage of several winter sports, set to the background of the colours of the rainbow used on several flags and banners used to represent the LGBT community.

Beneath the doodle, Google shows an excerpt from the Olympic charter which reads “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”. The strong implication is that Google believes Russian laws run counter to this.

Sochi 2014 Google Doodle

The search giant, which is not a sponsor of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) or any Olympic team, is the latest tech company to issue its support for the LGBT community ahead of Sochi.

Earlier this week AT&T, an official sponsor of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), issued a statement criticising the Russian anti-LGBT laws, and called for other Olympic sponsors to do the same.  Contacted by Techweekeurope, IOC technology partners Samsung and Panasonic refused to criticise the laws outright, while the other major Olympic tech sponsor Atos, made no comment at all.

Meanwhile,  LGBT activists have hijacked a social media marketing campaign by a non-technology sponsor, McDonalds, organising a campaign to hijack and subvert McDonalds’ pro-Sochi hashtag ‘#CheersToSochi by tweeting pro-diversity messages on it.

Social media hijack

Activists have used the hashtag to speak out against the Russian laws, and created a parody of the official McDonalds site, CheersToScohi.org, which accuses the sponsors, saying they have “betrayed” the Olympic Charter.

“#CheersToSochi speaks to frustrated people around the world who are disgusted with the sponsors’ silence,” explains Scott Wooledge, creator of CheersToSochi.org. “Their silence, and tacit consent with Russia’s war on gays has damaged their brand images worldwide.”

McDonalds says the campaign was intended to inspire athletes but although it says it supports human rights, it also does not outright criticise the laws.

“We are aware that some activists are targeting Olympic sponsors to voice their concerns regarding the Russian LGBT legislation,” says the fast food chain. “McDonald’s supports human rights, the spirit of the Olympics and all the athletes who’ve worked so hard to compete in the Games. We believe the Olympic Games should be open to all, free of discrimination, and that applies to spectators, officials, media and athletes.”

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