Got Luge?: Civil Rights Org Launches Social Media Campaign on Eve of Olympics

Move over men's figure skating. Step aside ice dancing. The Canadian Institute of Diversity and Inclusion (CIDI) has dubbed the two man luge as the single most gay event in the Winter Olympic Games. No if's, ands, or butts.

In a spoof of a promotional video produced by the CIDI that is guaranteed not to run on Russian television, the civil rights organization brings forth the ironic intimacy of the two-man luge event given the anti-gay climate in Russia, as a result of the passage of the "gay propaganda" law last year.

The video, which was launched three days ago by the CIDI, has gone viral on social media and has been viewed over 1.3 million times. It features two men seated in tandem on a slide, moving back and forth in a very homoerotic preparation for a luge run. The 33-second video, underscored by the Human League's 1980s new wave single "Don't You Want Me Baby?," ends with the quote: "The games have always been a little gay. Let's fight to keep them that way."

"Once you see this, you'll never look at the #luge the same again. Check out our commercial in support of ALL athletes at the games," reads a post on the CIDI Facebook page.

The video has been launched by the CIDI in conjunction with a meme of a two-man luge event forming the HRC's iconic red equality symbol. It is the CIDI's hope that Facebook users will use the symbol as their portrait photo during the Sochi games.

The CIDI video and social media campaign is the latest in a series of actions taken by organizations in the progressive North American nation. It was reported Friday that several Canadian cities, including former Olympic host cities Vancouver and Montreal, will be flying the rainbow flag in support of LGBT Russians oppressed by the Putin regime.

This article is part of "Sochi-ology," an EDGE special report series chronicling the social and political events surrounding Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. Visit the full list of Sochi-ology stories here.