Citing passage of recently approved laws which discriminate
against LGBT people, singer Lady Gaga has joined other celebrities –
including Stephen
Fry and George
Takei – calling for a boycott of the Winter Olympics to be held
next year in Sochi, Russia.
The laws, signed in recent weeks by Russian 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 Sochi and that athletes or
guests who violate the law will be detained.
“I care so much about theses issues and I don't think we should
be bringing any commerce to a country which enforces such a lack of
equality and a lack of human rights,” Lady
Gaga told UK tabloid The
Sun. “A country where so much abuse of youth is happening,
how can we bring so much attention to that part of the world and
reward them for that?”
“For me it's shocking, [but] then again everyone thinks Miley
Cyrus is shocking and that's the world we live in ...”