Ariel Bradford
Staff Writer
Everyone’s favorite Olympic diver is boycotting the FINA Diving World Series later this year in Moscow.
Russia’s anti-gay laws have been making news lately with the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Although Vladimir Putin was seen hugging an openly lesbian athlete, there is still concern about the safety and acceptance of gay athletes, their families, and fans.
Sir Elton John was quoted, “The people I met in Moscow – gay men and lesbians in their 20s, 30s and 40s – told me stories about receiving threats from vigilante groups who would ‘cure’ them of homosexuality by dousing them with urine or beating them up,”
This is a huge sacrifice for Daley, since the World Rankings of divers are awarded points at FINA meetings, as well as Olympic Games, and world championships per twelve month period. This means that he is missing out on an opportunity to score high and get ranked among the best divers in the world.
A source told the Daily Star Sunday, “Tom decided to boycott the Russian competition due to their despicable treatment of gay people. It’s something he feels really passionately about. He knows it could lose him ranking points and money but he wants to take a stand, even if it is just a small one. The last thing Tom wants to do is bring his sexuality into his diving. But he does feel a bigger responsibility to be a role model now since coming out.”
Via Tom Daley’s Instagram
Two months ago, in the world’s most adorable coming out video, Daley announced he’s been dating a man since spring 2013 and “couldn’t be happier.”
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