Sochi Olympics Playbook

Sochi

OLYMPICS PLAYBOOK glaad.org/russia

global voices 1 | GLAAD.ORG/RUSSIA

GLAAD’S SOCHI OLYMPICS PLAYBOOK

“It’s led to a huge increase in antigay violence, including murders. It’s led to attacks on gay and lesbian clubs and film festivals… and because these laws are passed supposedly to protect children, the people who are most targeted or have the most to fear are LGBT parents…

LGBT people have an incredible amount to fear right now, especially if they have children.”

Russian author and activist Masha Gessen to ABCNews.com

As the eyes of the world turn to the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, journalists will have an opportunity to tell the stories of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Russians, whose lives have changed significantly and, in many cases, endangered as a result of the country’s anti-LGBT laws and environment.

The lives of LGBT Russians are a significant part of the 2014 Winter Olympics story. Celebrities and notables have spoken out against the persecution of LGBT Russians, heads of state have refused to attend the 2014 Winter Olympics because of Russia’s anti-LGBT laws, and activists have called for boycotts of the Games. As you plan coverage of the 2014 Winter Olympics, it is important to not only highlight the violence and inequality facing LGBT Russians, but also to share their personal stories and experiences.

GLAAD’S SOCHI OLYMPICS PLAYBOOK

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background information Russia’s ban on so-called “LGBT propaganda”:

• June 2013 - Russia passes a law banning

The bill was temporarily withdrawn, but there

the “propaganda of non-traditional sexual

is a strong likelihood it will be reintroduced

relationships” to minors. The law has a vague

after the 2014 Winter Olympics. Russian

definition of “propaganda,” which could

leaders supporting the law, including the

include speaking favorably about LGBT people

bill’s author Alexei Zhuravlyov, have cited a

publically, displaying a rainbow flag, holding

University of Texas study conducted in 2012 as

hands with a same-sex partner, or even the

evidence to legitimize the bill, despite the fact

simple act of coming out as LGBT.

that the study has been widely discredited. An

• July 2013 - Russia passes a law that prohibits the adoption of Russian children by foreigners who live in countries that legally recognize marriage equality, including the United States.

• Numerous other laws have been passed that impact LGBT Russians that restrict basic freedoms of assembly, speech, and the rights of groups to organize freely if they receive funding from outside of Russia.

• October 2013 - A law is proposed that would

independent auditor has slammed the paper, saying it misled many to conclude that it found children of gay and lesbian parents fare worse than children of straight parents. The paper included very few children of gay and lesbian parents who self-identified that way, and were in committed relationships, raising those children together. In the Chronicle of Higher Education’s Percolator blog, Darren E. Sherkat, a professor of sociology at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale stated that the study should have never been published.

remove children from parents who are LGBT.

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GLAAD’S SOCHI OLYMPICS PLAYBOOK

• The anti-propaganda law has already led to the conviction of a newspaper publisher who reported on a teacher fired for being gay, and who quoted the teacher as saying, “My very existence is proof being gay is normal.”

The law has also led to the conviction of the creator of an LGBT youth support website.

• In a recent interview, Russian President Vladimir Putin equated LGBT people to pedophiles, saying that LGBT athletes and fans will be welcome in Russia as long as they “leave children alone.”

• Along with Putin, two Olympic Village ‘mayors’ also defended Russia’s anti-LGBT laws. Svetlana Zhurov is a gold-winning figure skater and a lawmaker in the Russian parliament who voted for the “Propaganda of Nontraditional Sexual Relations” bill last June. In an interview for Dozhd, Zhurov said she “voted [in favor of the bill] to stop people promoting it [the LGBT community]

to leave or do not want to leave behind their families and friends.

• About three-quarters (74%) of Russians said being gay or lesbian should not be accepted by society, while just 16% said it should be accepted, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey.

• Gangs have targeted and kidnapped LGBT people, tortured them, and posted videos of the torture. The most notorious gang named itself “Occupy Pedophilia.”

• In May of 2013, three men stabbed and trampled a gay man in Russia. After they killed him, they placed the victim in his car and set it on fire.

• A gay man was tortured to death in Volgograd, Russia. He was sexually assaulted with beer bottles and his skull was smashed with a stone by the attackers.

to minors.” Yelena Isinbayeva, a Russian pole

• In August of 2013, a group of individuals were

vault champion, said it is disappointing for

attacked at a Moscow Bar. After the attack,

athletes from other countries to voice their

one of the perpetrators texted the victims

opinion about the anti-LGBT laws.

telling them not to come back because “they looked gay.”

RUSSIAN ANTI-LGBT CULTURE

• Many LGBT Russians have reported a dramatic change for the worse in recent years. While it has never been easy to live openly as LGBT in Russia, many say they are now afraid for their lives. A large number of LGBT Russians have said they plan to leave the country. Some, however, cannot afford GLAAD’S SOCHI OLYMPICS PLAYBOOK

• An LGBT activist in Russia was publically assaulted by Russian paratroopers. Krill Kalugin was attacked while holding a rainbow sign that read, “This is propagating tolerance.”

• Nikolai Alekseev, a Russian LGBT activist was

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kidnapped and possibly drugged by Russian

LGBT people is considered as a political

security forces. The men who kidnapped him

demonstration.

suggested he withdraw his legal challenges against Moscow for banning LGBT Pride marches.

• The International Olympic Committee and the U.S. Olympic Committee have made it clear to competing athletes that Rule 50 of

• In August of 2013, Russian television news

the IOC’s codes prohibits any behavior such

anchor Anton Krasovsky came out as gay,

as displaying LGBT-supportive messages on

live on Russia’s KrontrTV. Within hours, he

clothing or while competing. Athletes are

was fired from his job at the state-run cable

allowed to answer questions about their

network.

positions if asked by media and may post their

• In November of 2013, two men wearing ski masks, carrying air guns and baseball bats, attacked a private meeting of LaSky,

views on social media, but not in the Olympic Village.

• There are only five openly LGBT athletes

a Russian HIV/AIDS association in St.

competing in the Sochi games. All five are

Petersburg. The police were called, but left

women, and none are from the United States.

right away stating they saw no evidence of a

For comparison, the 2012 London Olympic

crime.

Games had about 25 LGB athletes and coaches.

2014 WINTER OLYMPICS:

• The Olympic Charter plainly states that “Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement.”

• The

International

Olympic

Committee

(IOC) found that Russia’s anti-LGBT laws do not violate the Olympic charter’s antidiscrimination clause, saying the Committee is “fully satisfied” on the matter. The International Olympic Committee has said that political demonstrations could result in an athlete’s disqualification from the Games.

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• Sochi has established a “protest zone,” located far from most Olympic venues as a place for people to express their views, but which requires permission from the Federal Security Service (the former KGB).

• Campaign efforts are underway to increase the visibility of LGBT people during the Olympics. →→ The Principle 6 Campaign, organized by LGBT advocacy groups Athlete Ally and All Out, shows support for the Olympic Charter tenet that states “discrimination” is “incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement.” →→ Pride House International is a coalition of LGBT GLAAD’S SOCHI OLYMPICS PLAYBOOK

sports and human rights groups that creates Pride Houses at the Olympics. Its application for a Pride House in Sochi was denied by Russian officials. It has also launched two campaigns—the Same-Sex Hand Holding Initiative, and established “Safe House” Olympic-watching events around the world. →→ The Human Rights Campaign will continue its Love Conquers Hate campaign during the Olympics through apparel and social media campaigns. →→ The Uprising of Love Campaign will continue its work to boost international visibility of Russia’s anti-LGBT laws by leveraging celebrity participation -- including Melissa Etheridge, Dustin Lance Black, George Takei, and other Hollywood notables – while also directing supporters to RussiaFreedomFund.org, a vehicle through which people can make financial contributions to support the LGBT community in Russia.

INTERNATIONAL REACTIONS:

• Russia’s anti-LGBT ‘propaganda’ law is not the only, or even the worst anti-LGBT law in the world. Uganda’s parliament recently passed a law that sentences LGBT people to life in prison. India recently re-criminalized sex between people of the same-sex. Nigeria recently enacted a law that criminalizes marriage for same-sex couples, LGBT organizations, and anyone working for or promoting LGBT equality.

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• In total, 83 countries have laws against being LGBT. • World leaders are boycotting the Games over Russian human rights violations: German President Joachim Gauck, French President Francois Hollande, and European Union Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding said they will not attend the Olympic Games as a result of Russia’s human rights violations.

• President Obama will not be attending the Games this year. The White House Olympic delegation does not include any top administration officials, but does include three openly gay or lesbian athletes: Billie Jean King, Caitlin Cahow, and Brian Boitano.

• Sweden’s Sports Minister, Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth will not attend the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony due to Russia’s human rights violations. Liljeroth will, however, attend the Games to support Swedish athletes.

• Finland’s Sports Minister Paavo Arhinmaki will skip the Olympic’s Opening Ceremony in Sochi, saying that politicians should not go to Russia to “support human rights violations, restrictions to freedom of speech and the oppression of sexual minorities.”

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• The U.S. State Department has issued a travel warning to LGBT people traveling to Sochi.

“The U.S. government understands that this law applies to both Russian citizens and foreigners in Russia. Russian citizens found guilty of violating the law could face a fine of up to 100,000 rubles ($3,100). Foreign citizens face similar fines, up to 14 days in jail, and deportation. The law makes it a crime to promote LGBT equality in public, but lacks concrete legal definitions for key terms.

Russian authorities have indicated a broad interpretation of what constitutes ‘LGBT propaganda,’ and provided vague guidance as to which actions will be interpreted by authorities as ‘LGBT propaganda.’”

harassment targeted against LGBT individuals everywhere. Russia’s law is harmful to LGBT individuals and families, and it’s harmful to a diverse society.”

• Pop icon Madonna expressed her opinions about Russia’s anti-LGBT laws during a 2012 concert in St. Petersburg, during which she encouraged her audience to “show your love and appreciation to the gay community.”

Madonna also appeared in an outfit with “No Fear” scrawled on her back. Most of her audience members also wore pink bracelets distributed at the concert to show support for the LGBT community.

• After visiting Russia last December, Elton John published a letter on his website asking

OTHERS’ REACTIONS:

Russia to drop the propaganda law and

• 40 LGBT and human rights organizations have

treat LGBT Russians with respect. While

issued a letter calling for Olympic sponsors

performing in Moscow and Kazan, Elton

to speak out against the anti-propaganda law

John mentioned the warm welcome he

and in support of LGBT Russians.

received. But in order to understand how

• AT&T has issued a statement that condemned the anti-propaganda law, “AT&T has a long and proud history of support for the LGBT community in the United States and everywhere around the world where we do business. We support LGBT equality globally and we condemn violence, discrimination and

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the laws truly impact LGBT Russians, Elton John met with a local LGBT group. The group discussed many forms of harassment LGBT people experienced since the passing of the propaganda law. In his letter, John also expressed the desire to introduce Vladimir Putin to those individuals who deserve the same respect he experienced while in Russia.

GLAAD’S SOCHI OLYMPICS PLAYBOOK

• Pop Superstar Lady Gaga stated that she believes athletes should boycott the Sochi Winter Olympics. She expressed how sad she is to see the world send so much money to a country which is so discriminatory of LGBT individuals. In the interview, she also told about the pain she felt seeing LGBT kids in Russia.

• Due to the Russian Propaganda laws, Selena Gomez had to cancel two shows in Russia because she did not receive an entry visa.

After both Madonna and Lady Gaga showed support for the LGBT community during their concerts, the government was afraid Gomez would use her platform to support LGBT equality. Since Gomez was not allowed in the country, Justin Timberlake might also have to cancel two of his performances on Russia grounds in May of 2014.

• Cher was asked to be an Ambassador at the

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Olympics and perform; she declined the offer due to the discrimination in Russia.

• Seth Wescott, who won gold medals in snowboard cross in the 2006 and 2010 Olympics, spoke up against the propaganda laws in Russia. He criticizes the International Olympic Committee for choosing Sochi as a host country of the upcoming Winter Games.

He stated that discrimination against LGBT people is a crime in itself.

• Blake Skjellerup, a speed skater also expressed his voice as an openly gay athlete.

He believes that being an openly gay athlete in Sochi will make more of a statement rather than boycotting the games.

• After winning a silver medal in Moscow at the World Track and Field Championships, runner Nick Symmonds dedicated his victory to LGBT friends in his country.

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best practices for media coverage

Media is one of the only safe places for athletes to express their views on the law, therefore it is important for journalists to include questions about LGBT Russians and the anti-propaganda law in interviews.

Be sure to speak to Russian LGBT people directly,

athletes, politicians, or corporate leaders. In

but be prepared for them to speak anonymously.

Russia, only the state-controlled media and

Russia’s anti-LGBT ‘propaganda’ law puts LGBT

political officials talk about LGBT people,

people in danger just for being open and honest

usually in hateful ways and often comparing

about their lives. However, it is important that their

them to criminals. Essentially, educating

stories are told.

Russians about the lives of LGBT people and their families is illegal.

USE A PERSONAL LENS IN YOUR REPORTING

• Ask for a personal story, both the joys and challenges of being LGBT. • Ask about relationships -- many couples have been together for several years.

• Ask about safety and support.

FOCUS ON WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE LGBT IN RUSSIA.

• Russians today are not in regular contact with LGBT people like in the U.S. – they do

• The law promotes violence against LGBT people by demonizing their identities. As a result, incidents of anti-LGBT violence are on the rise.

IF TRAVELING TO RUSSIA:

• Journalists and others traveling to Russia may encounter criticism for attending and participating. It is helpful for journalists to remind people that the media’s spotlight is what will galvanize global attention necessary to changing these unjust laws.

not open their newspaper and read about LGBT families or see openly LGBT celebrities,

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GLAAD’S SOCHI OLYMPICS PLAYBOOK

EXAMPLE TALKING POINTS:

• I want my presence in Russia to be a sign of hope and solidarity for LGBT people in Russia.

• I’m aware of the bubble of protection that we are being afforded [during the Olympics], and my heart goes out to all those LGBT people here in Russia, who are being targeted simply because of who they are.

• While I am in Russia, I will be speaking out and expressing support for LGBT people with a simple message: you are courageous, you are on the right side of history, and you are loved for who you are.

WHEN INTERVIEWING ATHLETES OR

OTHERS INVOLVED DIRECTLY IN THE GAMES: • Consider asking if they support Principle 6 of the Olympic Charter, which recognizes that “the

about the same time that the new “antipropaganda” law was passed? (if not, provide information on the attacks listed above) →→ Do you think Russia’s “anti-propaganda” law contributes to violence against LGBT people? →→ LGBT people have been arrested in Russia for holding a rainbow flag under the country’s “anti-propaganda” law. Does this law go too far in controlling the actions of its citizens? →→ Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the anti-propaganda law doesn’t harm LGBT people, but only protects minors. Do you believe that statement? What about laws that protect LGBT minors? →→ Sports has become more LGBT inclusive over the past couple of years in the United States.

Do laws like Russia’s inhibit LGBT-inclusive sports on a global level?

• Consider asking if LGBT athletes should have equal opportunities for participating in international sporting events.

• Social media is also a place for your network

practice of sport is a human right” and that

and staff to express solidarity for LGBT

every individual must be able to practice

Russians such as:

“without discrimination of any kind.” The International Olympic Committee is obligated to “act against any form of discrimination affecting the Olympic Movement.”

• Consider asking if they are aware of Russia’s crackdown on human rights and LGBT people specifically and what they think about it. Sample questions: →→ Are you aware that LGBT people have been targeted for violence over the past year,

GLAAD’S SOCHI OLYMPICS PLAYBOOK

→→ While we report from #Sochi, we remember the hardships faced by LGBT Russians. #Sochi2014 #UprisingOfLove →→ After the Olympics, LGBT Russians will still face inequality and violence. #Sochi #Sochi2014 #UprisingOfLove →→ We stand in solidarity with LGBT Russians who face violence and inequality in their country #Sochi #Sochi2014 #UprisingOfLove →→ As you watch coverage of #Sochi2014, remember the violence LGBT Russians face #Sochi #UprisingOfLove

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pitfalls to avoid AVOID OMITTING COVERAGE OF RUSSIA’S ANTI-LGBT LAWS

• Coverage of Russia or the Olympics should make note of Russia’s anti-LGBT laws whenever possible. Omitting information about Russia’s human rights abuses may give the impression that your news outlet is overlooking the safety of LGBT Russians or condones the country’s anti-LGBT laws.

AVOID COMPARING LGBT PEOPLE TO PEDOPHILES

• Putin’s comments about LGBT people and the safety of children should not be presented as facts. All of his phrasing implicitly, if not explicitly, states that LGBT people are a danger to children. He, as well as others, use terms like “gay” and “pedophile”

AVOID SPEAKING ONLY TO RUSSIAN OFFICIALS ABOUT LGBT PEOPLE

interchangeably, falsely conflating the two. If

• Media outlets are not advised to rely solely on statements from Russian officials or International

challenges that LGBT Russians face.

Olympic

Committee

(IOC)

officials regarding LGBT people. Assertions of safety and the well being of LGBT people should be challenged.

• Speaking with Russian LGBT advocates will likely paint a fuller and richer picture of the

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Putin’s statements are included, they should be paired with the scientific facts about LGBT people not posing threats to children (see below).

• Anti-LGBT activists argue that LGBT people are inherently predatory to children, which psychological and social experts have disputed for more than a decade.

GLAAD’S SOCHI OLYMPICS PLAYBOOK

AVOID FOCUSING ATTENTION ON THE GAY BAR IN SOCHI

• The Mayak Caberet has attracted attention for being a gay bar in Sochi. There have • According to the American Psychological

been media visits and tours, ostensibly

Association, “Heterosexual and gay men are

to demonstrate that LGBT people are not

equally likely to sexually abuse children. A

persecuted. However, according to the Daily

perception that most perpetrators are gay

Mail, the Mayak Caberet is actually one of

men is a myth and harmful stereotype.”

the last gay bars in the Sochi area.

• Professor of Psychology at the University of

• Elsewhere in the country, LGBT groups

California at Davis, Gregory Herek, writes

and gatherings have not fared as well. On

“The empirical research does not show that

November 16, gunmen opened fire on the

gay or bisexual men are any more likely

Central Station, a gay club in Moscow.

than heterosexual men to molest children.”

He also notes “This well known lack of a linkage between homosexuality and child molestation accounts for why relatively little research has directly addressed the issue […] Proving something that is already widely known simply isn’t a priority for scientists.”

• Private gatherings of LGBT people, including an HIV support group and the Side by Side LGBT Film Festival, have come under attack.

Russian authorities are not investigating or prosecuting those who committed the attacks.

• Reporters would do well to ask about the fate of other LGBT bars in Sochi, outside of Mayak Caberet, as well as what patterns of patronage have occurred, and what LGBT advocacy groups are available locally.

GLAAD’S SOCHI OLYMPICS PLAYBOOK

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russian story leads and ideas LGBT PEOPLE BEING FIRED AFTER COMING OUT

• There have been a few high-profile firings of people who have come out as openly LGBT. Anton Krasovsky and Oleg Dusaev were both media figures on Russian television. After they came out as gay, both quickly lost their jobs.

There have been other, less high-profile firings of openly LGBT people as well.

THE LGBT MOVEMENT IN RUSSIA

• There are currently 11 paid LGBT advocates in the entire country of Russia. There are a handful of cultural, film, sport, advocacy, and legal LGBT organizations. Many people offer volunteer time and services, and often put their lives at great risk to be involved.

THE ROLE OF U.S.-BASED ANTI-LGBT ACTIVISTS

• U.S.-based anti-LGBT activists have been

• Scott Lively, president of Abiding Truth Ministries and director of Redemption Gate Mission Society, both currently based in Springfield, Mass., has called the Russian antiLGBT laws, “one of the proudest achievements of my career.” He sent a letter to Vladimir Putin saying “homosexualization” must be fought just so that we can “redeem the future of mankind from a Fascist Leviathan, just as we did in World War II.” Lively has also been sued by the LGBT people of Uganda for inciting violence against them.

• Lou Engle has outposts established all over the world through his International House of Prayer (IHOP). His anti-LGBT work in Uganda is well documented in the film God Loves Uganda, but he also has used IHOP missions in Russia to spread his anti-LGBT animus in that country.

strong proponents of the Russia’s anti-LGBT ‘propaganda’ law.

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GLAAD’S SOCHI OLYMPICS PLAYBOOK

• Paul Cameron addressed Russian State Duma, which, according to one source, was

screenings, psychology study groups, photo exhibitions, parties, and entertainment.

“absolutely thrilled” to host him. Cameron has recommended that LGBT individuals be banned from teaching in schools because they are supposedly disproportionately likely to be pedophiles and are therefore a threat to children.

ATTACKS ON PRIVATE MEETINGS OF LGBT PEOPLE

• In November, the Side by Side LGBT Film Festival in St. Petersburg was disrupted five times because of bomb threats, including an event featuring Academy Award-winning filmmakers

• Austin Ruse, President of the Catholic Family

Bruce Cohen, Dustin Lance Black, and Gus Van

and Human Rights Institute, has stated,

Sant. Also in November, two men wearing

“I can’t point to any country of the world

ski masks and carrying air guns attacked the

today that is a model for the rest of the

Russian HIV/AIDS organization, LaSky.

world, except perhaps for Russia, which has just taken the very important and frankly necessary step of criminalizing homosexual propaganda to protect the society from being ‘homosexualzed.’ [sic] This was one of my recommendation [sic] to Russian leaders in my 50-city tour of the former Soviet Union in 2006 and 2007.”

RUSSIAN OPEN GAMES

• The Russian Open Games run from February 26 -March 2 in Moscow. The goal of the Games is to promote healthy lifestyles, physical activity and sports among LGBT adults and their supporters. The program will include cultural elements as well – film

GLAAD’S SOCHI OLYMPICS PLAYBOOK

GANGS TARGETING AND FILMING THE TORTURE OF LGBT PEOPLE

• Violent anti-LGBT vigilante groups have cropped up around Russia, with the goal of luring young LGBT people in to a meeting, then kidnapping, beating and torturing them, while filming the entire incident and then posting it on Russian social media.

LGBT ASYLUM SEEKERS

• The number of LGBT asylum seekers is increasing, not only from Russia, but from other countries like Uganda, where legal persecution of LGBT people is on the rise. A number of asylum organizations in the United States are working to provide assistance.

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potential interviews LGBT AND ALLIED RUSSIANS

• Alexander Kargaltsev is an openly gay Russian artist, writer, photographer, actor and film director. In Russia, Alexander was physically and verbally attacked over 15 times for being gay, both by Russian government officials and by private parties while

of the Side by Side LGBT Film Festival in St. Petersburg. She has carried out extensive research in Russia concerning the importance of the arts and culture in terms of its social, political, and psychological significance.

• Masha Gessen is a Russian journalist/LGBT

government officials either refused to help or

activist, who has just left Russia with her

advanced a culture of tolerating attacks and

partner and three children to live in the U.S.,

constant discrimination against LGBT people.

due to the increasingly negative policies of

He is based in New York.

Putin and the State Duma. She was being

• Anton Krasovsky is a Russian political journalist and television personality. He was editor-in-chief of pro-Kremlin cable channel Kontr TV until he came out as gay on air, for which he was fired.

• Oleg Dusaev & Mitja Stepanov are a couple seeking asylum in the United States. In Russia, Oleg was the host of an arts and culture show, and Mitja was a psychologist.

After coming out, they have traveled to New York City, and are currently in the asylum process.

• Anastasia Smirnova is coordinating advocacy efforts on behalf of a coalition of Russian LGBT organizations in regard to the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi. She is based in Russia.

• Manny de Guerre is a founding organizer 15 | GLAAD.ORG/RUSSIA

named specifically as someone the laws were targeting, including the proposed law to take away children from LGBT parents. She is currently coming out with a book entitled Gay Propaganda: A Collection of LGBT Russian Love Stories, highlighting the violence and harm faced by LGBT Russians.

• Yelena Goltsman & Nina Long are the copresidents of RUSA LGBT, a network for those who identify with Russian-speaking and LGBTQ cultures, fighting for social justice, human and civil rights for LGBTQ people in America and in the Former Soviet Union.

They are based in New York.

UNITED STATES-BASED LGBT ORGANIZATIONS, ADVOCATES

• Sarah Kate Ellis is the President of GLAAD, the nation’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy GLAAD’S SOCHI OLYMPICS PLAYBOOK

organization. GLAAD has been working with LGBT leaders in Russia for several months.

GLAAD has been one of the leading voices commenting on the public outcry around the 2014 Winter Olympics with a range of appearances in mainstream news and sports media.

• Omar Sharif Jr. is an Egyptian-Canadian actor, public-figure, and grandson to international icon Omar Sharif. He faced a barrage of condemnation, criticism and threats of violence in the Arab world after he wrote a commentary in which he came out as gay in 2012. Most of this negativity was spurred on by the Arabic media’s demonization of his identity. He is based in New York.

• Julie Dorf is Senior Advisor for the Council for Global Equality and has been a leader in the LGBT equality movement for twenty years.

• Wade Davis is the Executive Director of the You Can Play Project, which advocates for LGBT equality in the professional and amateur sports communities. Davis is a former NFL player who is one of a small number of openly gay men to have played professional sports.

• George Gellis is the president of the No More Fear Foundation, a volunteer support system for LGBT asylum seekers in the United States.

No More Fear provides legal, medical, and psychological assistance, as well as English language classes, and resettlement counseling for LGBT people seeking asylum in the United States.

GLAAD’S SOCHI OLYMPICS PLAYBOOK

• Hudson Taylor is the Executive Director of Athlete Ally, an organization focused on ending homophobia and transphobia in sports by educating allies in the athletic community and empowering them to take a stand. He is based in New York and will be in Sochi for a portion of the Olympic Games.

CELEBRITIES:

• Dustin Lance Black, openly gay Academy Award-winning filmmaker of Milk. He traveled with Bruce Cohen and Gus Van Sant to the Side by Side LGBT Film Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia to screen his film, MILK, and speak about the global LGBT movement.

• George Takei, openly gay TV icon and LGBT advocate. He has used social media to criticize Russia’s anti-LGBT laws and show support for LGBT people.

• Melissa Etheridge, openly lesbian musician.

After meeting with Russian LGBT advocates, she wrote the anthem, Uprising of Love, for which the coalition takes its name. The proceeds from the song will benefit Russian LGBT advocates.

• Bruce Cohen, award-winning film, television, and theatre producer. He has been one of the major organizing forces behind the Uprising of Love campaign, which has organized over 40 entertainment leaders to speak out in support of LGBT Russians.

For additional spokespeople, contact GLAAD. GLAAD.ORG/RUSSIA | 16

glaad’s 24/7 resource and assistance availability

For more information, help, and guidance, please contact GLAAD. We can put you in contact with the above interview subjects, provide resources, facts and ideas to tell the stories of LGBT Russians.

Rich Ferraro

Seth Adam

Vice President of Communications

Senior Manager of Communications

646-871-8011

646-871-8018

rferraro@glaad.org

seth@glaad.org

Ross Murray Director of News 646-871-8040 rmurray@glaad.org

For the most updated information, visit www.glaad.org/russia.

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