Openly gay journalist James Kirchick on Wednesday morning took
over a Russia Today (RT) segment to criticize Russian anti-gay laws.
The laws, recently signed by President Vladimir Putin, prohibit
gay and lesbian couples from adopting Russian-born children and the
public promotion of gay rights where minors might be present,
effectively banning Gay Pride marches and similar demonstrations.
Russian officials have said that its “gay propaganda” law would
be in effect at the Winter Olympics at Sochi and that athletes or
guests who violate the law will be detained.
RT, which is financed by the Russian government, invited Kirchick,
who appeared from Stockholm wearing a pair of rainbow suspenders, to
discuss the sentencing of Bradley Manning.
“Being silent in the face of evil is something that we can't
do,” Kirchick said. “So being here on a Kremlin-funded
propaganda network, I'm going to wear my gay pride suspenders and
speak out against the horrific, anti-gay legislation that [President]
Vladimir Putin has signed into law.”
Despite multiple attempts, the show's host was unable to interrupt
Kirchick.
“I'm not interested in talking about Bradley Manning,” he
insisted. “I'm interested in talking about the horrific
environment in Russia right now, and to let the Russian gay people
know that they have friends and allies in solidarity from people all
over the world, and that we're not going to be silenced in the face
of horrific repression that is perpetrated by your paymaster,
Vladimir Putin.”
“I don't know, as a journalist, how you can go to sleep at
night. Everybody who works for this network should be ashamed of
yourselves,” he added.
After the show returned from a commercial break, Kirchick was gone. (The
video is embedded on this page. Visit
our video library for more videos.)
He tweeted: “True fact: @RT_com just called taxi company that
took me to studio to drop me off on the side of the highway on way to
Stockholm airport.”