Openly gay actor George Takei said
Friday that he does not support a boycott of the Winter Olympics to
be held in Sochi over Russia's anti-gay law.
The law, approved in June, prohibits
the promotion of “gay propaganda” to minors, effectively
prohibiting Gay Pride marches and similar public demonstrations of
support. The law's passage provoked worldwide condemnation and calls
for a boycott of the Sochi Olympics.
Speaking at The National Press Club,
Takei reiterated that he would like to see the Winter Olympics moved
out of Russia.
“No, I don't believe in a boycott,
because the athletes that participate in the Olympics have been
training for years now and they're reaching their peak and they
should not be penalized. The homophobic laws in Russia, that was
passed recently. You know when they made the presentation to the
IOC, the International Olympic Committee, to have the right to
present the Winter Olympics at Sochi, Russia they pledged to honor
the Olympic code, which says no discrimination. They breached that
pledge. Russia needs to be punished, but it's too late to pull out
of Sochi now.”
“The International Olympic Committee
is spineless,” he added. “They need to have some backbone,
because they are charged with upholding the Olympic creed, and
something should be done with the membership of the IOC.”
(Related: George
Takei loves young couples making “gay babies of tomorrow.”)