Sochi Winter Olympic Games Will Have No Pride

Sochi, Russia will not host the Winter Olympics until February 2014, but the location has already faced their share of controversies, including one that surfaced this week.

A judge in the region of Krasnodar blocked plans for a Pride House in Sochi, where gay athletes and officials could meet for social events and conferences. Svetlana Mordovina ruled that the Pride House is "extremist" and that "fighting homophobia is immoral." 

"The aim of the organization contradicts the basics of public morality and the policy of the state in the area of family, motherhood, and childhood protection. The activities of the movement leads to propaganda of non-traditional sexual orientation which can undermine the security of the Russian society and the state,” claimed Mordovina.

In 1999, homosexuality was officially removed from the list of mental illnesses in Russia.  Advocate groups outside of Russia have vowed to protest the ruling. 

A well attended Pride House first appeared in Vancouver 2010 and another is planned for this summer's London Olympic Games.