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Protest Antigay Russian Law by Holding Hands, Says Rights Group

Protest Antigay Russian Law by Holding Hands, Says Rights Group

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Pride House International urges anyone at the Olympics in Russia to hold hands with a person of the same sex whenever possible.

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Pride House International, an LGBT equality group focusing on sports, is calling for attendees at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, to protest the nation's new antigay law by taking "every opportunity to hold hands with a person of the same sex."

Pride House announced the Same-Sex Hand-Holding Initiative on its blog this week. The so-called gay propaganda law approved by the Russian government this summer, banning any "promotion of nontraditional sexual relations" that might be seen by minors, "makes any expression of real or perceived homosexuality -- even something as innocuous as same-sex hand-holding -- potentially illegal," the blog post notes.

The group is encouraging participation by athletes, staff, media, officials, spectators, sponsors, vendors, and fans. For safety, it recommends that "hand-holding should happen only in public view with as many witnesses as possible." There have been several instances of violence against LGBT people in Russia this summer.

Go here for more information.

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Trudy Ring

Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.
Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.