British actor Sir Ian McKellen has said that he is appalled by
passage of an anti-gay law in Russia that has provoked calls for a
boycott of the Winter Olympics to take place next year in Sochi,
Russia.
Russia's “gay propaganda” law prohibits the public promotion
of gay rights to minors.
McKellen made a brief statement in a video clip taken with a
mobile phone and uploaded to the YouTube account of The Wall Street
Journal.
“As a gay man, it is absolutely appalling to me that this law
has been passed, which would inhibit me and any gay athletes going to
Russia [inaudible] to be simply themselves,” McKellen said.
“I would do almost anything possible to help repeal it, but it
isn't easy as a foreigner.”
“What would be wonderful is if all the athletes, gay and
straight, and the Olympic authorities were to make clear that they
absolutely disapprove of it and they are going to ignore it, not
because they don't care, but because at the moment the spirit of the
Olympics must take precedent,” McKellen added. (The video is
embedded on this page. Visit
our video library for more videos.)