The Global Map of Homophobia

The Sochi Olympics are intended, as The Economist has noted, as a “celebration of Russia’s resurgence, a symbol of international recognition.” So far, the press coverage in the lead-up to tonight's opening ceremonies has instead highlighted the games as a “microcosm of Russian corruption, inefficiencies, excess of wealth and disregard for ordinary citizens.”

Under this last category, no issue has received as much attention over the past six months as the country’s fraught relationship with the LGBT community. This summer, the country banned the dissemination of “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations” and ended the foreign adoption of Russian children by gay couples. Putin did little to clear the air when he reassured the world that Russia’s gay visitors should feel “at ease,” so long as they “leave the children in peace."