Uploaded September 2013 | Updated September 2026, 6 hours ago
Should we boycott the winter Olympics? Russian Vodka? Russian Products?
As I'm sure you know, the news from Russia isn't good -- certainly not if you're lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. The catalogue of human rights abuses committed against LGBT people in Russia is truly horrific. It's not just the outlawing of Pride marches or Putin's legislative attempts to ban public discussion of homosexuality. Homosexual acts are now punishable by imprisonment. There is even talk of removing children from parents thought to be lesbian or gay.
In this climate of state-sanctioned homophobia, LGBT people are being brutalised. Attacks, torture and even murder are being ignored by the Russian police. This is why I support the boycott of the winter Olympics. As Stephen Fry wrote in his open letter to David Cameron and the Olympic committee, sport "does not exist in a bubble outside society or politics".
Sending LGBT athletes and supporters to the winter Olympics not only puts their personal safety at risk -- it also says that Putin's persecution of LGBT Russians is seen as acceptable.
Should we boycott the winter Olympics? Russian Vodka? Russian Products?
As I'm sure you know, the news from Russia isn't good -- certainly not if you're lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. The catalogue of human rights abuses committed against LGBT people in Russia is truly horrific. It's not just the outlawing of Pride marches or Putin's legislative attempts to ban public discussion of homosexuality. Homosexual acts are now punishable by imprisonment. There is even talk of removing children from parents thought to be lesbian or gay.
In this climate of state-sanctioned homophobia, LGBT people are being brutalised. Attacks, torture and even murder are being ignored by the Russian police. This is why I support the boycott of the winter Olympics. As Stephen Fry wrote in his open letter to David Cameron and the Olympic committee, sport "does not exist in a bubble outside society or politics".
Sending LGBT athletes and supporters to the winter Olympics not only puts their personal safety at risk -- it also says that Putin's persecution of LGBT Russians is seen as acceptable.
