Yelena Isinbayeva says anti-gay remarks were 'misunderstood'

[Eugene]

Source: BBC

Yelena Isinbayeva says anti-gay remarks were 'misunderstood'

16 August 2013
Last updated at 11:13 GMT

Russian athlete Yelena Isinbayeva says she may have been "misunderstood" over comments condemning homosexuality and insists she is against discrimination.

On Thursday, the 31-year-old world pole vault champion backed new anti-gay laws brought in by her country.

But in a statement on Friday, she said: "English is not my first language and I think I may have been misunderstood.

"I am opposed to any discrimination against gay people on the grounds of their sexuality."

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Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/athletics/23722954

[MADem]

1. I don't think she was misunderstood. I think she's walking back some nasty hate speech. nt

[theHandpuppet]

2. Agreed.

I think her first statement was pretty clear.

[DURHAM D]

3. oh sure...

I think her bosses are trying to walk this back because they are feeling the heat.

[bullwinkle428]

4. She's clearly a graduate of the Republican Apology Institute.

[DinahMoeHum]

5. She has a reputation as a diva in her sport. . .

. . .and frankly she is lucky that her remarks about the painted fingernails were directed at the Swedish athletes. Because if she said that crap in front of American athletes, in particular, African-American women athletes, odds are, she would now be wearing a pair of bloody ankle stumps where her feet used to be.

She's gonna have to do a better job if she's going to be a "diplomat" at the upcoming Games.

[Bluenorthwest]

6. Her English is very good actually and her first statement was clear as a bell

She spoke for herself and for Russia. Now she's realizing she will be considered to be an atavistic bigot on a global basis and she's a tad upset about that. People who hold those prejudices can go straight to hell.

[William769]

7. She is definitely not a good liar.

And as far as I'm concerned, you can stick that pole where the sun doesn't shine.

[Dash87]

8. Bull crap!

[stevenleser]

9. Too late Yelena. What you said was pretty clear and bigoted.

In case anyone didnt see/hear it:

[bravenak]

10. Misunderstood?

New definition.
Misunderstood= when people hear what you said and call you a bigot because of it.

[theHandpuppet]

11. Interesting column from Bleacher Report

Sochi Olympics, Gay Rights and Some Russians' Idea of Respect
By Dan Levy
(National Lead Writer) on August 16, 2013

(short excerpt)

Isinbayeva also described the legislation as reflecting the legitimate social and cultural views of Russia.

"It’s my opinion also ... "You know, to do all this stuff on the street, we are very afraid about our nation, because we consider ourselves like normal, standard people. We just live boys with women, and women with boys. ... It comes from history."

Lots of things "come from history," some of which were horrible things that human beings in a more advanced, progressive world should never have to endure again.

Enslaving people with different color skin and forcing them to do hard labor for no pay "comes from history." Murdering millions of people who believe in a different god or who do not share the same dominant physical characteristics "comes from history" too.

In many countries, the social oppression of women, who are forced to live their lives with fewer rights and liberties than men, "comes from history."

MORE at link above.