It is true that Hillary gave a great speech - all very safe, idealistic and non specific. There were many far graver anti-gay events then - and she did not speak of any consequence (from the US) to countries like Uganda where you could be killed for being gay.
If you feel it is needed, Kerry took more risk testifying before Strom Thurman's committee for gays in the military - speaking honestly on the issue at a point where there was a potential political cost in doing it - something I have never seen a Clinton do. Add that he was the only up for re-election Senator to vote against DOMA - calling it both gay bashing and unconstitutional in 1996, when it was clearly not without political risk for someone with Presidential ambition. There was also being the first Senator (and the only one for years) to advocate for giving gay immigrant spouses the same privilege given if they were straight. Kerry takes a back seat to very few on gay rights -- and certainly not to Hillary. (This does confirm that she and the media intend to bill her years as SOS as fostering women's and human rights - though it seems just words to me.)
In addition, this issue just recently surfaced. The law as explained in one article says foreigners can go to jail if they support LGBT issues. If that were interpreted literally, they could arrest nearly any American Democrat - including the SOS if it were not for diplomatic immunity. The IOC needs to get clarification of what the rules for both athletes and visitors to the Olympics will actually be. This an issue that should first be addressed behind the scenes by the IOC. This is not a specifically American issue. Only if the IOC was doing nothing - and we have no idea what they are doing behind the scenes - should this be addressed by Kerry and other foreign ministers.
As to US visitors not related to the Olympics, the first responsibility of the State has to be to get a clear definition of what Americans can be arrested for doing -- and they need to communicate that in State Department travel advisories. I did find this page that addresses LGBT travel in general. I suggest that Ganderson use this State Department advisory to put the issue in context. http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/lgbt/lgbt_5887.html The fact is that there are countries with laws that go far beyond Russia's and this seems to infer that the US government can not change other country's laws.
The other point is that Kerry making a strong statement - which he could do with ease - that would make some on DU happy for at least 30 seconds - is that it weakens his ability to do his job on any issue where he needs to work with the Russians -- including on this. It makes far more sense for Kerry and his peers to work behind the scenes with the IOC and Russia, to find a viable solution that protects the safety of all US athletes and spectators from consequences with this aw.
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