The unsafe cultural climate for LGBT people in Russia has already turned away many of the world's sports fans and now it only looks like it will be getting worse.

Anatoly Pakhomov, the mayor of Sochi, the city hosting the 2014 Winter Olympics, has publicly claimed that gay people do not exist in his city and that if they do, he doesn't know any.

The mayor also caused a stir when he failed to give a solid reassurance that gay people would be safe at the Olympic games, only saying that people have to respect the Russian laws. As people throughout the world have learned, Russia has a ban on gay "propaganda" and arrests those who publicly support gay rights in the nation. President Vladimir Putin signed the controversial law banning "nontraditional sexual relations" to minors.

"Our hospitality will be extended to everyone who respects the laws of the Russian Federation and doesn't impose their habits on others," he said, according to a report from BBC.

The mayor stopped short of saying that gay people would have to hide in Russia, saying "no" when asked that question, but Pakhomov then shot back with an offensive statement by referring to gay people as "them."

"No, we just say that it is your business, it's your life. But it's not accepted here in the Caucasus where we live. We do not have them [gay people] in our city."

He eventually said he was "not sure" whether gay people actually live in the city but said he does not "bloody know them."

What do you think about the mayor? He certainly is not setting a good example for the foreigners who are looking forward to making a trip to Sochi and Russia in general. Will there be protests at the Olympics in support of the LGBT community? In the comments section below, let us know what you think.