The Human Rights Campaign kicked off a popular campaign protesting Russia's anti-gay law with a Russian-language "Love Conquers Hate" t-shirt being sported by such gay celebs as Ricky Martin, Tim Gunn, NBA basketball player Jason Collins and soccer player Megan Rapinoe.
"We stand with Russia's LGBT community and their allies," HRC President Chad Griffin said. "We are committed to doing as much as we possibly can to support their efforts to repeal this heinous law."
Russian President Vladimir Putin told the head of the International Olympic Committee Monday that gay people will be welcome at the 2014 Winter games in Sochi despite the country's anti-gay law passed earlier this year that has been the subject of calls for boycotts and severe criticism.
"We are doing everything, both the organizers and our athletes and fans, so that participants and guests feel comfortable in Sochi, regardless of nationality, race or sexual orientation" Putin told Thomas Bach, the head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), according to a report by Reuters.
Outspoken LGBT rights ally John Lewis is the only member of Congress from Georgia to sign a letter calling on Secretary of State John Kerry to ensure the safety of LGBT Americans attending the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
"We are writing to you regarding the troubling implications of a recently-enacted Russian law criminalizing actions or statements deemed to be in support of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community," states the letter, led by U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) and signed by 83 members of Congress including Lewis (D-Ga.).
U.S. Rep. John Lewis joins concern over Russia's anti-gay laws