In an address to members of the
International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Thursday, U.N.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned discrimination and attacks
against LGBT people.
“We must all raise our voices against
attacks on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex people,”
Ban said. “We must oppose the arrests, imprisonments and
discriminatory restrictions they face.”
The run-up to Friday's opening of the
Winter Olympics in Sochi has been marred by Russia's “gay
propaganda” law, which prohibits the promotion of gay rights in
public spaces.
“The Olympics show the power of sport
to bring together individuals regardless of age, race, class,
religion, ability, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity,” Ban
added.
Ban also took part in the Olympic torch
relay.
Ban's remarks come on the same day that
Dmitry Kozak, Russia's deputy prime minister, asked gay visitors and
athletes attending the Sochi Games to “leave the kids alone.”
(Related: Russian
deputy PM: Gays must “leave the kids alone.”)