The worldwide condemnation of Russia’s recent bill banning gay “propaganda” has now sparked debate among athletes. Among calls for boycott of the 2014 Olympics that are to be held in Russia, the 14th World Championships in Athletics that are currently held in Moscow have also become a scene for the issue.
Related: 2014 Olympics & Anti-Gay Sentiment In Russia
Two competitors from the Swedish national team, the high jumper Emma Green-Tregaro and the sprinter Moa Hjelmer, showed their support for LGBT rights in Russia by painting their nails in rainbow colours. While the Swedish athletes did not think of it as a protest, but rather as a simple way of showing their stance to the world, the Russian pole-vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva criticised the action and called it disrespectful of her country and their laws. She went on to defend the law and claim that Russian citizens are against public displays of homosexuality.
Related: LGBT Russians Urge Us Not To Boycott The Sochi Olympics
The law was passed in June by the lower house of parliament in Russia, the Duma, and prohibits spreading information about homosexuality to people under 18.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuNt7_fZjM4
The controversial nails. Image Credit: Erik Mårtensson/Scanpix.
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[…] week after Russian athletes Kseniya Ryzhova and Tatyana Firova kissed in celebration at the World Athletics Championships in Moscow as well as three-time pole vaulting champion Yelena […]
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