IOC to vote on pro-LGBT charter

THE addition of an LGBT anti-discrimination clause in the Olympic Charter will be voted on by the International Olympics Committee (IOC) in Monaco.

The recommendation from the Olympic Agenda 2020 to include “non-discrimination on sexual orientation in the Sixth Fundamental Principle of Olympism” will be voted on at the 127th IOC Session on December 8 and 9.

The Sixth Principle currently protects discrimination on the basis of “race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise”.

This outcome follows the success of the All Out campaign’s petition to change the Charter earlier this year, which resulted in the IOC’s acceptance of 300,000 signatures during the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics.

In response, IOC President Thomas Bach has expressed his support for formally writing in protections for sexual orientation.

Protests were organised in over 50 countries worldwide, and supported by organisations such as Athlete Ally and Human Rights Watch.

“With this upcoming vote, the IOC has the opportunity to ensure that the spirit of the Olympic Games extends to all people,” Athlete Ally’s Hudson Taylor said.

“LGBT athletes and fans have been and will continue to be an active and integral part of the Olympic movement.

“Now is the time for the IOC to acknowledge their contributions and explicitly protect them from discrimination of any kind.”

Including this amendment would potentially stop countries with anti-gay laws and attitudes from hosting the Olympics.

Lobbyists hope that it will send a message to host cities and Olympic participants.