Since USA, Canada and Australia among others have issued declarations that they are unable to guarantee the safety of gay athletes, trainers or supporters going to these Olympic sports, I'd say that doesn't put gay sportsmen and women on a level footing with straight ones. Going to a foreign country to compete while feeling uneasy about the possibility of being persecuted or arrested isn't going to help one's concentration or performance. As the title of this thread is 'Moscow Olympics', and having read several postings by you-know-who (no, not Voldemort) I'm objecting to the idea that one's sexual orientation is in any way relevant to one's sporting prowess. As, apparently, straight folk won't have this attitude to contend with, that gives them a certain relaxed advantage, which is grossly unfair, and IMO amounts to inequality.