Staff Writer
Another example of Russia’s reviled policies opposing gay rights has come to light, as Italian gay-right activist Vladimir Luxuria was detained today in Sochi’s Shayba Arena.
The former Communist lawmaker was stopped by Russian authorities upon entering the arena at the Olympic Park in order to watch a hockey game, all the while shouting “I have a ticket”.
Turning from her former career to promote equality for LGBT people, particularly in regards to the transgender community, Luxuria went on to become a prominent television personality and proponent of the cause. Before being stolen away in a car, she was seen walking through the Olympic Park in a rainbow-colored outfit, complete with a huge headdress inspired by fashions wore by Marie Antoinette, shouting “Gay is OK” in both English and Russian.
This is far from the only example of Russian authorities stepping in to attempt to dictate behavior and public opinion during the Sochi Olympics. Activist David Khakim was arrested while protesting the three-year prison sentence given to environmentalist Yevgeny Vitishko, who had been critical of preparations made for the then-upcoming Olympics.
Of the activists detained, many have alleged that Russian police have ignored laws set in place to prevent such abuses of a person’s legal rights, damaging the environment with the construction of Olympic buildings while arbitrarily imprisoning any protester that dare oppose the country’s human rights’ abuses or their hasty and unsafe preparations for the games.
Despite claiming that peoples of all types would be welcome at the Olympics and declaring homosexuality to no longer be against the law in 1993, Russian authorities continue to overstep boundaries, remaining ardently opposed to public demonstrations and most things having to do with the LGBT community.
Keep Up With PopWrapped On The Web!
http://www.PopWrapped.com
http://www.Twitter.com/PopWrapped
http://www.SoundCloud.com/PopWrapped
http://www.Popwrapped.Tumblr.com
http://www.Facebook.com/PopWrapped
http://www.Instagram.com/PopWrapped
http://www.Pinterest.com/PopWrapped
http://www.YouTube.com/PopWrapped
Author
