President Barack Obama on Wednesday called for gay rights on the
eve of a visit to Russia.
On Wednesday, the president arrived in Stockholm, Sweden, where he
was greeted by Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt.
“We share a belief in the dignity and equality of every human
being,” Obama told reporters during a joint press conference with
Reinfeldt. “That our daughters deserve the same opportunities as
our sons. That our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters must be
treated equally under the law.”
Obama's remarks come on the eve of a visit to Russia to attend a
summit of the G-20. While in Russia, the president has agreed to
meet with gay rights activists to discuss nascent anti-gay laws
signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The laws prohibit gay
and lesbian couples from adopting Russian-born children and the
promotion of gay rights where minors might be present, effectively
banning Gay Pride marches and similar demonstrations. Russia's “gay
propaganda” law has provoked worldwide outrage and calls to boycott
the upcoming Winter Olympics to be held in Sochi.
Obama has previously criticized the law but decried a boycott as
“inappropriate.”
(Related: Obama:
Not appropriate to boycott Olympics over Russian anti-gay law.)