Posted By Melanie Nathan, February 23, 2014. New York, NY (February 23, 2014) — Nearly three dozen members of Queer Nation held a raucous protest at the United States Olympic Committee’s final “Road to Sochi Tour” event at Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan on February 23. The action began just as the event began in […]
Freedom for Russia & Ukraine D.C. Rally to End the Gulag Olympics & LGBT persecution.
By Cathy Kristofferson, February 22, 2014 Today in Washington, D.C. activists are protesting for “Freedom for Russia & Ukraine Rally and End the Gulag Olympics, End LGBT persecution.” The action was called by Spectrum Human Rights Alliance to support Russian & Ukrainian people in their fight for freedom and human rights! This action is also […]
Pussy Riot members arrested in Sochi for “theft”
“pussy riot members said they came they to Sochi to stage a piece entitled “Putin teaches you how to love the motherland” By Cathy Kristofferson, February 18, 2014 Pussy Riot members, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina, fresh off their recent media tour with Amnesty International, have been arrested in Sochi, Russia on “theft” of a woman’s […]
Sochi arrest of former Italian MP waving “Being Gay Is Ok” flag
By Cathy Kristofferson, February 16, 2014 February 17 update below… Italian media is reporting that former MP Vladimir Luxuria (the first transgender person to hold that office in Italy), was arrested in Sochi Sunday night after displaying a banner reading “Being Gay is OK’. Earlier in the day, Luxuria had tweeted “I’m in Sochi! Regards with the colors of […]
Russia passes more anti gay legislation despite Sochi Games
By Cathy Kristofferson, February 13, 2014 RIA Novisti is reporting that today Russia introduced measures to further restrict adoptions to people in countries that recognize same-sex marriages. The ban now affects married gay couples and unmarried couples. The timing is beautiful – why let the international focus on Russia of the homophobic Sochi Olympic Games dissuade you […]
Gay Activists Condemn Olympic Political Statement by Out Dutch Athlete
Speed Skater and Gold Medal Winner Ireen Wust Boasted in Media Reports of Embracing Vladimir Putin By Melanie Nathan, February 11, 2014. New York, NY (February 10, 2014) — Members of the gay activist group Queer Nation have condemned Dutch speed skater Ireen Wust for having a “cuddle” with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the […]
The Real Russia Where Gay People Hunted Like Animals A Must Watch BBC Report
Support for Sochi Olympics Endorses the Freedom of “Vigilante Gangs to Hunt and Catch Gay People for Sport” Channel 4 and BBC TV went to Russia and did an in depth documentary on what life is really like being Gay in Russia. Will those crowds sitting cheering on the stands of SOCHI say “we did […]
Gay Activists in “Bloody” Demonstration Against Sochi
Queer Nation Demo Marks Opening of Sochi Olympics with Fake Blood Poured on Olympic Flag Vladimir Putin’s Anti-Gay Laws | State-Sanctioned Anti-Gay Violence at Issue By Melanie Nathan, February 07, 2014. New York, NY (February 6, 2014) — More than 100 members of the gay activist group Queer Nation and others who oppose the Russian […]
Gays to protest Sochi Olympic opening at Russian Consulate
GAY PROTESTERS WILL RETURN TO RUSSIAN CONSULATE | February 6 Queer Nation Demo To Mark Opening of Sochi Olympics Vladimir Putin’s Anti-Gay Laws and State-Sanctioned Anti-Gay Violence at Issue Posted by Melanie Nathan New York, NY (January 30, 2014) — Members of the gay activist group Queer Nation and others who oppose the Russian government’s […]
Russian Gay Activist arrested waving Rainbow Flag at Sochi Olympic Torch Relay
By Cathy Kristofferson, January 18, 2014 Russian LGBT activist Pavel Lebedev today jumped out in front of the torchbearer of the Olympic Torch Relay in Voronezh, Russia and waved a rainbow flag. He was of course then tacked by event personnel and handed over to police. The information on social media from @ru_lgbt_teen who tweeted the […]
U.S. State Department Warns of Danger to Gays in Sochi Olympic Travel Advisory
By Melanie Nathan, January 11, 2014. The United States State Department has issued a travel advisory warning Americans of the dangers in attending the February Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. The alert advises Americans about the anti-gay laws where Russia criminalizes so called “propaganda” about homosexuality. Indeed the notice also warns that terrorists have threatened […]
LGBT Activists in altercation with Olympic Gold Medalist on Anti-Gay SOCHI
Queer Nation & GetEqual Disrupt “Road to Sochi” Events Amid LGBT Safety Concerns By Melanie Nathan, January 10, 2014. Three members of Queer Nation and GetEqual Massachusetts disrupted the opening event of the US Olympic Committee’s Road to Sochi tour stop in Boston, inquiring about the safety of LGBT Olympians, Spectators & Russians. In particular […]
Gays Protest Putin’s Homophobic Laws at U.S. Olympic Committee SOCHI Launch
New York, NY (October 29, 2013) — Two dozen members of Queer Nation interrupted the smooth flow of the opening event of the US Olympic Committee’s Road to Sochi tour, which launched in Times Square today. As the Road to Sochi event began at 12:00 pm with a press conference featuring Olympic and Paralympic athletes, […]
Olympic Gold Snowboarder Denounces Russian Anti-Gay Law
By Melanie Nathan, September 13, 2013. The voices are growing and they are becoming louder and clear and let us hope that this statement by Olympic gold snowboarder, Seth Wescott, who is speaking out against Russia’s anti-gay propaganda law in defense of LGBT athletes, will prompt more athletes to come out against Russia and its […]
The White House and HRC must call for complete Boycott of Winter Olympics in Sochi
While the kidnapping, torture and outing of young gays continue with public endorsement in Russia through the tacit license of anti-gay laws | And even if we are assured of the safety of our athletes, are we willing to leave Sochi, after a “successful games” only to know that this persecution will continue for LGBT […]
Over a thousand attend London’s UK Supports LGBT Russia protest
“Stephen Fry has called on athletes … to make a symbol at the Games to display their objection to new anti-gay laws.” By Cathy Kristofferson, August 10, 2013 Today’s “UK Supports LGBT Russia” protest in London against Russia’s anti-gay laws and rising homophobia drew an early estimate of 1,100 attending the over 3 hour event. The […]
The truth about Russian Vodka Boycotts, Stoli Stolichnaya and ALL OUT Boycotts
The Facts About Stolichnaya \ What Stolichnaya Execs, its PR Firm and Ad Agency Say About the Brand – What Stolichnaya Execs, its PR Firm and Ad Agency Say About the Brand By Melanie Nathan, August 08, 2013. Updates August 11, 2013. – In its attempts to separate itself from the Russian vodka boycotts, Stoli […]
U.S. House Reps send Letter to Kerry about Anti-Gay 2014 Olympic Games in Russia
Rep. Nadler Leads Bipartisan Letter to Protect LGBT Rights at 2014 Olympic Games in Russia By Melanie Nathan, August 2, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, lead a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State John Kerry regarding the protection […]
Russian Sports Minister confirms Olympic athletes are NOT exempt
“…but if he goes onto the street and starts propagandizing it, then of course he will be held accountable” By Cathy Kristofferson, August 1, 2013 A series of tweets from @r_sport, who bills themselves as the “Official host news agency for @Sochi2014”, alerted me to renewed confirmation that Sochi Olympic athletes will NOT in fact be […]
Russia arrests Dutch tourists on gay propaganda charges
How will this not happen during the Olympics! By Cathy Kristofferson, July 21, 2013 Updates posted below. So it has begun. Russia today arrested tourists ‘violating’ their new anti-gay propaganda law.About an hour ago, the LGBT Russian Network posted on their Facebook wall: “URGENT NEWS! In Murmansk city (North Russia) 3 Dutch citizens detained by the […]
Academy Award winner risks arrest by waving rainbow flag in Red Square Moscow
Will the Olympic athletes attending the Sochi Olympic Games follow her lead? By Cathy Kristofferson, July 4, 2013 Academy award winning actress Tilda Swinton yesterday risked arrest by standing with a rainbow flag in Red Square Moscow in clear violation of Russia’s new national so-called anti-gay “promotion” law. The picture was posted to Twitter by […]
Renewed calls for Olympic boycott as gay arrests continue in Russia
An action to demonstrate the danger of the new anti-LGBT laws By Cathy Kristofferson, July 2, 2013 Amidst current graphic protests, there is a renewed call for the boycott of the Sochi Olympics, as gay arrests continue in Russia following President Putin’s signing into law the nationwide so-called “anti-propaganda bill,” banning the so called ‘promotion’ […]
Call to Boycott Olympics in homophobic Russia reminds of Apartheid South Africa
“If they feel strongly about human rights they should boycott the Olympics in Sochi.” By Cathy Kristofferson, June 18, 2013 RUSA LGBT, a Russian-Speaking American LGBTQ group in New York City, is calling for a boycott of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. The lower house of the Russian Duma last week unanimously passed their […]
Five Gay Activists Arrested as third Russian Region Passes Anti-gay Laws
By Guest writer Paul Canning, Dec 30, 2011 And Other Russian matter for consideration- A third Russian region has passed an anti-gay law banning LGBT organizing and public actions. Five activists have been arrested whilst protesting the law. Kostroma, a region located 300 km north east of Moscow, has become the third Russian region to […]
Olympian Gary Hall to “Swim for Equality” in San Francisco Bay
06/06/2011, by Melanie Nathan San Francisco- On Sunday, June 26, swimmers from throughout the country will swim 1.2 miles in the San Francisco Bay to raise critical awareness and funds for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in California. The event, benefiting Equality California, will challenge experienced swimmers to a course from Alcatraz Island […]
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