Celebrities such as Cher, Elton John and Lady Gaga will be pleased at the outcome of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) meeting on Monday, as an amendment to the Olympic Charter regarding sexuality was unanimously approved. Although the IOC gathered in Monaco to discuss a host of changes that were presented as a reform package, the discrimination topic received the most media attention afterward.
After Russian anti-gay laws were placed under the spotlight in the lead-up to the Sochi Winter Olympics nine months ago, the issue of homophobia in relation to the Olympics has remained pertinent. Prior to Monday, the IOC officially included an anti-discrimination clause to the host-city contract for future Games, which was driven by a joint open letter sent to IOC president Thomas Bach by gay rights groups All Out and Athlete Ally, and Human Rights Watch. Furthermore, an online All Out petition on the subject has been signed by almost half a million people (the original target was 100,000 signatures).
Even though race, religion, politics, gender and "otherwise" were already part of the Olympic Charter, the new IOC amendment explicitly stipulates sexuality, meaning that discrimination on the basis of sexual preference is now considered a breach of Olympic policy. The Charter now reads:
"The enjoyment of the rights and freedoms set forth in this Olympic Charter shall be secured without discrimination of any kind, such as race, color, sex, sexual orientation, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status"
In response to Monday's decision, Bach praised a "very important step" and the IOC president was also pleased at the straightforward approval of the entire reform package—the meeting was wrapped up within one day. Shawn Gaylord, of Human Rights First, said to USA Today, "Today is a great step forward for the Olympics", while Athlete Ally's Hudson Taylor highlighted the significance of "the oldest organized athletic competition in the history of the world" taking a stand on sexuality discrimination.
It may be most appropriate to conclude with the words of former Olympian diver Greg Louganis, a winner of four Olympic gold medals, who said that the amendment "will make it clear about open hearts and open minds in the spirit of the Olympic Games."