Olympian Seth Wescott has criticized a recently enacted Russian
law that prohibits “gay propaganda.”
In comments to the AP, Wescott, a two-time Olympic gold medal
champion, criticized the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for
selecting Sochi to host the Winter Olympics.
“The human rights stuff that's going on, there's a potential for
it to be an incredibly negatively-overshadowed Olympics,” Wescott
said.
The 37-year-old Wescott, who lives in Maine, in 2006 and again in
2010 won gold medals in snowboard cross at the Winter Olympics.
“They're wonderful human beings,” Wescott said of gay female
snowboarding friends, “and I think for them to be discriminated
against is a crime. They should be able to be who they are and
compete proudly. They represent our country incredibly well and they
don't need to be the object of that kind of criticism and
negativity.”
Russia's “gay propaganda” law prohibits the public promotion
of gay rights to minors, effectively outlawing Gay Pride parades and
other such demonstrations. Critics have pointed out that the law's
vagueness leaves it open to interpretation.
(Related: Russian
MP insists gay parents corrupt their children.)