Usually, it’s the United States that is the target for student critiques, especially in regards to gay rights.

However, Washington State University student Dominique Wald has some scathing analysis on the Russians and their treatment of homosexuals.

The Olympic Games are a time of unity and pride in one’s country. For those living in Russia, however, that might not be the case.

According to the Washington Post, activists are outraged that Russia will host the 2014 Winter Olympics in response to a recently passed bill which imposes anti-gay legislation.

Last time I checked, a law which prohibits people from acknowledging homosexuality is one of the highest forms of discrimination, and Russia should suffer the consequences.

The bill, which Russian President Vladimir Putin signed in June, prohibits nontraditional sexual relationships among minors, effectively isolating gays and lesbians from Russian society.

The bill sparked a debate between gay rights activists and the International Olympic Committee as some believe the Olympic Charter, a document which specifies rules for Olympic host countries, has been disregarded.

The Charter states “any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement.”

Translation: Discrimination for any reason is inexcusable, therefore – say the activists – Russia’s right to host the Olympics should be revoked.

…I cannot believe that, in 2013, some strive to make others suffer for something as inconsequential as their sexuality. But the real question is: How should Russia be reprimanded?

One option is to boycott the country, but such an effort would fall deaf to Russian ears as the Games are inevitably bound to happen. Another is for countries who oppose anti-gay sentiment to drop out of the competition, but to do so would only hurt the athletes.

The best option is to take the Olympic Games away from Russia – ban them from hosting the Games until their anti-gay policies have come to an end. This might seem like a tough battle, but believe it or not, it has been done before.

….The Olympic Games deserve to be held in a place where all people are welcome, not only those who fit into the ‘traditional’ category of sexual orientation. That’s why the IOC ought to consider passing the torch to a more forward-thinking country, one that considers all human beings as equals.