Gay Australian Winter Olympic hopeful speaks out against Russia's laws
Snowboarder Belle Brockhoff comes out to take a stand for LGBT athletes
Belle Brockhoff, an Australian Olympic hopeful, recently came out as a lesbian to take a stand against Russia's 'homosexual propaganda' laws.
The 20-year-old snowboarder has always dreamed of winning the top medal.
'It's basically my dream,' she said to ABC News.
'Ever since I picked up the Snowboard, the very first day I picked up a Snowboard, I said to myself, "I want to compete and represent Australia in the Olympics and win gold,' Brockhoff continued.
Although the Sochi Olympics are six months away, the snowboarder is worried she will have to hide if she makes it to the Games.
'I have a feeling that I would have to kind of go back into the closet a little bit because I don't want to risk my safety, [or be] arrested or deported,' she said to ABC.
The International Olympic Committee received a letter from Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak saying Russia will not ‘actively’ discriminate against homosexuals. He did, however, defend the propaganda laws and insisted they will be enforced.
The Olympic hopeful promises if she gets to Sochi, she'll wear a pride symbol.
'Maybe a little bit of a badge,' she said.
The 20-year-old snowboarder has always dreamed of winning the top medal.
'It's basically my dream,' she said to ABC News.
'Ever since I picked up the Snowboard, the very first day I picked up a Snowboard, I said to myself, "I want to compete and represent Australia in the Olympics and win gold,' Brockhoff continued.
Although the Sochi Olympics are six months away, the snowboarder is worried she will have to hide if she makes it to the Games.
'I have a feeling that I would have to kind of go back into the closet a little bit because I don't want to risk my safety, [or be] arrested or deported,' she said to ABC.
The International Olympic Committee received a letter from Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak saying Russia will not ‘actively’ discriminate against homosexuals. He did, however, defend the propaganda laws and insisted they will be enforced.
The Olympic hopeful promises if she gets to Sochi, she'll wear a pride symbol.
'Maybe a little bit of a badge,' she said.
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