The 14 most amazing ways the world fought against Russia's anti-gay laws
Cher said no, and the world listened. From ballet demonstrations to
national commercials, from tweets to open letters, here are the 14
ways the world came together for the Russian LGBTI community
24 February 2014 | By Joe Morgan, Jean Paul Zapata
Did you pour your Stoli vodka down a drain, or stop eating McDonald's
during the Winter Olympics?
In recent months Russia has been at the center of a civil rights
firestorm, between president Putin signing anti-gay laws to
politicians threatening LGBTI Olympic athletes and spectators.
Even though the Sochi Winter Olympics wrapped up this weekend, the
reactions to Russia's anti-gay laws are still being seen, heard and
felt around the world.
For all the hate speech flying around from both sides, there were so
many courageous and respectful ways in which people took a stand
against Russia's anti-gay laws.
Here are 14 ways the world said no to Russian homophobia and yes to
universal love.
The world loved Blondie, Cher even more
Many people were asked to perform during the Sochi Olympics, but the
majority of them all refused.
That list included Blondie's Debbie Harry and Cher.
On Twitter, Harry posted a photo of the offer by the Red Rocks
Festival. On it, she had written, 'Pass - human rights.'
And Cher said: 'I can't name names but my friend called who is a big
oligarch over there, and asked me if I'd like to be an ambassador for
the Olympics and open the show.
'I immediately said no.'
The world came out, loud and proud
Hollywood heartthrob Wentworth Miller came out publicly as a gay men
in 2013, choosing to do so in a rejection letter to the St Petersburg
International Film Festival.
'As a gay man, I must decline,' he wrote.
'I am deeply troubled by the current attitude toward and treatment of
gay men and women by the Russian government'.
The Prison Break star said he previously enjoyed visiting Russia and
also claims a degree of Russian ancestry.
The world listened to gay people in Sochi
The mayor of Sochi, Anatoly Pakhomov, said there would be no issues at
the Olympics as there were no gay people in his city. The gay people
in his city were furious.
One gay man, Andrey Ozerny, came to GSN to air his frustration.
'You are mistaken that you don't know any gay people,' he vented.
'Believe me, there are many gays in the city administration and
probably you often sit with them in the same room at the same table.'
'I hope you realise that gay people are a part of the picture of a
modern world, and you will one day join us.'
The world got high-class
One of the most famous Russian exports is gay composer Tchaikovsky,
and the world famous ballet Swan Lake.
In London opposite the Russian embassy's headquarters, two male and
two female dancers plièd in protest to Swan Lake's most famous theme.
The result was perhaps the classiest gay rights protest ever.
The world got low-class
And now to the slightly lower class, and that is meant in the most
hilarious, tongue-in-cheek way.
Both Canada and UK's Channel 4 decided to release adverts to protest
against Russia's gay propaganda law.
In the first, Canada showed how the Winter Olympics has always been a
little bit gay by showing how homerotic the double luge can be.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
The world gave Visa the cut
Olympic sponsors like Coca-Cola and McDonald's came under fire in
recent months for not doing more against Russia's anti-gay laws.
Openly gay MEP Michael Cashman sent a stinging reprisal to Visa when
he cut up his plastic credit card on the floor of the chamber.
'I will never allow the tyranny of a majority to oppress a minority,'
he said in a televised speech.
'The defence of civil liberties and human rights is paramount and is
finally the test of a civilized democracy.'
The world stood by their man
Ahead of the Sochi Olympics, Russia's government gave conflicting
reports over the safety of LGBTI athletes and attendees.
Bent Høie, the official representative for Norway at the Paralympics,
said since it was normal for a cabinet official to travel with a
spouse on such an official visit, he would take his husband with him
to Russia.
As one of the world's most gay-friendly nations, Norway has also won
some of the most Winter Olympic medals.
The world decided to kiss, and show and tell
Students from the UK's Cambridge University, the top-ranked college in
the country, aren't afraid to kiss and tell.
This February hundreds of Cambridge students staged a flash-mob where
same-sex couples kissed and waved rainbow flags on campus in
solidarity with Russia's LGBTI community.
Elly Smith, student and organizer of the flash mob, told Cambridge
News: 'My girlfriend and I can hold hands on the street, without fear.
We feel very lucky to live in a town where people aren't persecuted
for who they love.'
'Not everyone has this, not everyone even knows it is possible.'
'To LGBTI people in Russia: the world is listening, and the world is
fighting for you.'
The world raised its voice for gay rights
During the Olympics opening Ceremony, the London Gay Men's Chorus
hosted a three-hour song-fest outside the city's Russian Embassy.
Steven McIntyre, one of the group's trustees and the organiser of the
protest, said: 'What we wanted to do was say, "look, we understand
that the Olympics bring people together, but this Olympics is
excluding people, and that's not okay".'
'If I could send a message to the gay athletes in Russia, I would say
"you are our heroes," McIntyre said.
The world found a new hero
Some knew who Vladimir Luxuria was before, after all to be Europe's
first openly Trans elected member of parliament it takes some bravery.
But not only did she go to Sochi, Russia and a hold a gay rights
protest, she got arrested. And then the next day, she turned up to a
hockey match in a rainbow dress and got arrested again.
After so many politicians talked the talk, it was her who became a
hero by taking a stand.
The world sent Putin a Valentine's kiss
On Valentine's Day, several cities hosted same-sex kiss protests in
order to show how love can conquer fear and hate.
In just one protest in Beijing, activist Xiao Tie told the AFP: 'We
feel more positive today as it is Valentine's Day and we have the
opportunity to relay the message that everybody has the right to love
and the right to campaign.'
The World dressed up as Mishka the bear and asked for kisses
Stockholm residents sent Russia the ultimate Blowkiss.
A camera crew followed Mishka the bear around the city asking
residents to send air kisses to Russia 'to support equal love and gay
rights'.
The film crew intends to go global as the next planned stop is New York City.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
The world proved LGBTI athletes do better when out
Even though Sochi just had seven openly LGBT athletes, if they were a
team they would have done better than countries like Finland, Great
Britain and Australia.
Dutch speed-skater Ireen Wüst was the biggest medal-winner of the
seven athletes, winning one gold and three silvers so far.
'It proves countries that exclude LGBT people from any activity,
including sport, are shooting themselves in the foot,' Marc Naimark,
vice president of the Federation of Gay Games, told GSN.
'They say in the workplace a woman who reaches the same level as a man
is often much more competent because of the challenges they face. I
think that is perhaps true of gay athletes. To reach the highest level
needs something special.'
The latter went cabaret with a gay bear singing the 'Gay Mountain' song.
More:
http://www.gaystarnews.com/
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