Obama to raise LGBT issues with Putin?

Whether the wheels of politics are slowly moving towards a boycott of the Sochi winter Olympics (due to Russia's new anti-gay laws) remains to be seen. But, in what would only have to be worrying for the Russians, the issue is being raised now at the white house press conferences.

Washington Blade: Thanks, Jay. I have my own question about Russia actually. A big concern among the international LGBT community is about anti-gay legislation and anti-gay violence in that country. There are some calls to boycott the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. At the end of last year, Russia President Vladimir Putin signed a law that bans the “promotion of homosexuality” to minors. Is the president aware of these calls for a boycott and is he open to the idea of withdrawing U.S. participation from the Winter Olympics? 

Jay Carney: I’m not aware of the calls. I can tell you that the president and this administration makes clear to our allies and partners and nations around the world our belief that LGBT rights need to be respected everywhere, but I don’t have a specific — I haven’t discussed this with him. 

The State Department might have more information, but I don’t have a specific response from him or from the White House on that particular issue, but broadly speaking, we make our concerns about these issues known to countries around the world. And I think this came up in the president’s trip to Africa. We made that clear. more

Once again we have a conflict between what Washington views as a human rights issue and Putins doublespeak about it all. Can Obama reconcile this most important of issues with the Olympics being held in a country that ignores them?