Jewish Human Rights Advocates to Protest Sochi Olympics Because of Gay Persecution

THE TABLET
By Editorial Board

Russian struggle for LGBT equality is emphasized in “De Profundis”
 by queer British artist Tony O’Connell. Courtesy of Jesus In Love Blog.

RUSSIA---Come Friday, the most effective thing we can do to protest the Sochi Olympic is not to watch it. Alone among developed nations, Russia continues its consistent campaign against all vestiges of civil society. The abuses are too many to recount and include muzzling all independent media, severely limiting the ability of nongovernmental organizations to operate safely and successfully, and locking up political dissenters on trumped-up charges. These assaults on liberty are troubling in and of themselves, but they pale in comparison with the Russian government’s unprecedented campaign against its own gay and lesbian citizens, who are persecuted for no reason other than being who they are. As a smiling Vladimir Putin invites the world to ignore his regime’s persecution of gay Russians, we need to be just as clear, just as loud. How? Each of us must find a way. For the next two weeks, we will bring you no reports of the games at Sochi. [link]