Confirmed: LGBT Olympic Participants Risk Arrest by Russian Authorities

Queer Nation Demands 2014 Winter Games in Sochi Be Moved

New York, NY (August 12, 2013) — Today RIA Novosti, Russia’s official news agency, reported that Russia’s Interior Ministry will enforce a recently enacted law that bars any pro-gay statements in public, private or on the Internet during the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. Queer Nation demands that the law be repealed or that the Games be moved.

With this statement, Russian authorities have removed all doubt that this law will be enforced during the Games. All participants — athletes and spectators alike — at the Games will be subject to arrest, fines and deportation if they make any pro-gay statements or engage in any pro-gay demonstrations.

“If an athlete wears a rainbow pin, that athlete will be arrested, fined and deported,” said Alan Klein, a co-founder of Queer Nation. “If a lesbian couple hold hands in Sochi, they will be arrested, fined and deported. If a gay male couple post a picture of themselves holding hands on Facebook or any social media site, they will be arrested, fined and deported.”

Klein continued, “The Russian government has done nothing to curb the continuing violence perpetrated against LGBT people in Russia and sanctions such violence by its inaction. Any athlete or spectator at the Games could also be subject to brutal attacks.”