Russian LGBT groups say boycott Russian products, Olympics - 3851 - Gay Lesbian Bi Trans News

New York, NY (July 28, 2013) — In a bold statement sent today to Queer Nation, 23 leading LGBT Russian activists and their supporters called for a broad boycott of Russian products and the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.

"International support is essential for the survival of Russia's LGBT community right now," the July 28 statement read. "We appreciate and support all attempts to let the Russian authorities know that homophobic and inhumane laws will not go unnoticed and that Vladimir Putin's regime will not get away with antigay violence."

The statement is an unambiguous endorsement of the "Dump Russian Vodka" campaign called for by Queer Nation, Dan Savage, Cleve Jones and other leading LGBT activists worldwide. The statement also endorses actor Harvey Fierstein's impassioned call in the New York Times for a boycott of the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.

"At great personal risk, these LGBT activists, their allies and organizations have called for our continued support," said Alan Klein, a co-founder of Queer Nation. "Their courage inspires us to continue our work until such time as the Russian government repeals this anti-gay law."

In June, the Russian Duma passed a law that barred pro-LGBT discussions and displays in public and on the Internet. Since the law was enacted, LGBT Russians and foreign LGBT nationals have endured violence and arrests.

Queer Nation expects that there will be additional endorsers on the Russian activists' statement. The statement and list of signatories follows:

Dear Friends,

International support is essential for the survival of Russia's LGBT community right now. We appreciate and support all attempts to let the Russian authorities know that homophobic and inhumane laws will not go unnoticed and that Vladimir Putin's regime will not get away with antigay violence. We speak out in favor of boycotting Russian goods and companies and the Olympic Games in Sochi. We also appreciate the attention of international media; we need it. We would also support any legislative initiative aimed at holding the Russian authorities accountable for their homophobic campaign. Thank you for being with us in our hour of need.

Masha Gessen, author, journalist, activist

Kseniya Kirichenko, lawyer and legal scholar

Alexei Davydov, Radical Faggots Union; political council member of the Moscow chapter of the

Solidarity Movement

Maria Baronova, activist, Bolotnoye Case defendant

Alexander Artemyev, journalist

Olga Krause, poet, musician, activist

Tasha Granovskaya, social worker, LGBT activist

Queer Nation Media Release

Bulat Barantaev, Homosexuals, Relatives and Friends Movement; member of the political council,

Novosibirsk chapter of the Solidarity Movement

Mitya Aleshkovsky, photographer, activist