WATCH: George Takei Says Russian Olympics a 'Situation of Good vs. Evil'

[William769]

The out actor and LGBT activist also compared Putin's Russia to Nazi Germany, saying the Winter Olympics scheduled for next year in Sochi are giving the antigay President international approval.

George Takei, the out actor best known for playing Hikaru Sulu in the original Star Trek series, took a stand against Russia's antigay policies on MSNBC Wednesday night.

Speaking with Lawrence O'Donnell, the outspoken LGBT activist — and Japanese-American who was confined to an internment camp during the second World War — illustrated the dire state of human rights in President Vladimir Putin's Russia.

"This is a situation of good vs. evil," said the 76-year-old married activist on The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell. "It is evil that is happening there, and we must not play into Putin's game."

LGBT Russians and visitors have been harassed, beaten, and arrested under the nation's ban on so-called propaganda discussing any "non-traditional sexual relations" with minors, which Putin signed into law earlier this summer. Putin also signed a bill forbidding foreign gay and lesbian couples from adopting Russian orphans, extending even to single people in nations that have embraced marriage equality.

Calling the antigay climate in Russia "a terrible situation," Takei urged athletes, corporations, and everyday citizens to boycott the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, scheduled to take place in Sochi, Russia. Alternately, Takei suggested that the 2014 Olympics "must get out of Russia," suggesting Vancouver, Canada, as a friendly location that already contains the infrastructure to support the Olympics, as it hosted the 2010 Winter Games.

http://www.advocate.com/politics/2013/08/08/watch-george-takei-says-russian-olympics-situation-good-vs-evil

Video at link.

[MNBrewer]

1. Boycott Sochi, for sure

[dbackjon]

2. Move the games

[William769]

3. Vancouver would be a great place to have them again.

[dbackjon]

4. Yes it would

[davidpdx]

5. We'll see how much lift the campaign to shift the Olympics or out right boycott it gets

I admire Mr. Takei for taking the lead. The combination of the Olympics being so soon, along with the IOC being a bunch of weenies who won't stand up to Russia. It doesn't look good.

Get a few people who will put some money behind it and start running commercial on news networks and online.

[napkinz]

6. kick for George Takei!

[Scurrilous]

7. K & R