Gay skater Johnny Weir: I’m prepared to be arrested at Winter Olympics

[Playinghardball]

Gay Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir has said that he does not plan to campaign for LGBT rights or even openly kiss his Russian-born husband at the games in Sochi, but that he is prepared to be arrested by Russian authorities. The flamboyant athlete and reality TV star told CBS News that he is uncertain whether he will even be allowed into the country to compete.

“In Russia, just the sheer fact that you could be gay, you can get arrested, fined, and it’s a terrible thing to even think of,” Weir said. “Myself, even, just walking down the street, going to get Starbucks in the morning, and somebody could arrest me just because I look too gay.”

Russia has found itself increasingly out of step with the rest of the world because of its regressive attitude toward LGBT people. Russian officials like St. Petersburg’s Vitaly Milanov have passed laws in the country outlawing “homosexual propaganda,” a blanket term that means any depiction of same sex relationships that does not paint them as abhorrent and anomalous. Russian youth have engaged in a campaign of torture and murder of LGBT teens.

It is currently unclear whether Russian officials intend to prosecute LGBT athletes and Olympic personnel or whether visitors will be immune to the discriminatory laws faced by Russian citizens. Milanov insists that the laws will be enforced universally, whereas the AP reported Friday that NBC has assured issued its LGBT employees that the network will do everything in its power to keep them safe.

More at: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/08/10/gay-skater-johnny-weir-im-prepared-to-be-arrested-at-winter-olympics/

[markpkessinger]

1. He is highly unlikely to be arrested . . .

. . . So I wish the young Mr. Weir would realize this is ultimately NOT about him or about other gay athletes, but rather about the LGBT folks in Russia who are living, and suffering, under these repressive laws.

[FreeState]

5. +1

[Bluenorthwest]

8. Seeing as Mr Weir is married to a Russian man my guess is he has some damn good perspective

on it. Just my guess.

[roguevalley]

11. the olympics needs to be yanked

[Smarmie Doofus]

2. Confusing. If this is the case:

>>>has said that he does not plan to campaign for LGBT rights or even openly kiss his Russian-born husband at the games in Sochi, but that he is prepared to be arrested by Russian authorities.>>>>

.... how would he risk arrest?

[theHandpuppet]

3. This should prove interesting

Weir is a Russophile of long standing so it will be interesting to see just how far he will push his Olympic hosts.

[LisaL]

7. You are not likely to see it. Considering he would have to get onto the Olympic Team first.

There are only two places, and he hasn't competed in a while.

[ZombieHorde]

4. I wish him, and all oppressed people, freedom, love, and wonder. nt

[femmocrat]

6. Well, first he has to make the team if he plans to "compete".

IMO, that is unlikely. He has hardly competed since Vancouver and is now 29 years old.

[Cha]

9. Good for Johnny Weir bringing national attention to disgusting and disgraceful policies of Russia

on Gay Rights.. Letting it be known that if he does go that he is prepared to be arrested. Someone who is willing to "pay the price".


Dustin Lance Black Urges Hollywood to Confront Russia's Anti-Gay Laws

For LGBT Americans and the countless advocates in Hollywood who have helped champion the cause of full equality for all, these past few months have been filled with hope and celebration. Every day it seems we are taking a new step forward in this country. The dangerous temptation, however, is that we become content. Just days after the Supreme Court made so many of us feel more American with a pair of favorable marriage-equality rulings, on the other side of the globe, Russian President Vladimir Putin enacted some of the most vehemently anti-gay laws the world has ever known. The most dangerous weapon he has against his own LGBT citizens is the apathy that may spring from international ignorance and our own potential domestic contentment.

Even worse than what these Russian laws target is what they tolerate. Hate is spreading to all corners of Russian society. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church called marriage equality a "sign of the apocalypse." Roving groups of skinheads have attacked LGBT pride demonstrations, leaving blood on public streets.

There are even profoundly disturbing reports of thugs posing as teenagers on the Internet and luring gay youth out into the open and then harassing, torturing and humiliating these young people before releasing videos of their tortured victims online."

snip//

"Because the truth is, the other thing that will soon be noted by Putin and LGBT Russians alike is our industry's silence and apathy. And LGBT Russians living in fear and putting their lives on the line deserve better than our inaction and silence.".

There's More..
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/russias-anti-gay-laws-dustin-600437

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023430113

thanks Play

[RebelOne]

10. It was a repeat, but I just saw him on Chopped at Food Network

competing in the All Star competition. Unfortunately, he was chopped/

[HiPointDem]

12. because russia is soooooo eager to start an international incident at the olympics.