Current Affairs

Gay figure skater Johnny Weir says he is ‘not afraid of being arrested’ under Russian anti-gay law

Aug 14 2013
Written by Joseph McCormick

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a pink background.

A gay professional figure skater from the US has said he is not scared to get arrested in Russia for being gay, following the passage of several anti-gay laws in June.

Johnny Weir said in an interview with CBS that he would face arrest in Russia for being gay, if that is what it took for “people to pay attention”.

“Like anyone, I’m afraid of being arrested, but also I’m not afraid of being arrested,” Weir said, referring to the law signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin banning the “promotion” of homosexuality to minors.

“If it takes me getting arrested for people to pay attention and for people to lobby against this law, then I’m willing to take it,” he said.

Weir recently said he is a “hardcore Russophile” and that boycotting the Winter Olympics over Russian anti-gay laws is “silly”.

President Vladimir Putin signed the law in June banning the promotion of “non-traditional relationships” toward minors, a move that has been criticised as part of a broader crackdown on Russia’s gay community. Other laws banning the adoption of Russian children by foreign same-sex couples, and one which enables organisations receiving funding from abroad to be fined as “foreign agents”, were also passed.

The laws have so far sparked controversy among LGBT activists, with some calling for a boycott of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. Others have also called to boycott Russian vodka as a form of protest.

On Monday, the Russian Interior Ministry confirmed that recently introduced anti-gay legislation will remain in force during the Sochi games.

A petition which has gathered over 150,000 signatures, calls for the 2014 games to be relocated to Vancouver, following the passage of the laws.

In an interview last week, a senior International Olympics Committee member said: “Russia must respect the Olympic Charter, or we will say goodbye to them”, broaching the question of relocating the games with the IOC for the first time.

The international football governing body FIFA yesterday called on Russia to give “clarification and more details” about the laws ahead of the 2018 World Cup due to take place in the country.

Johnny Weir first came out as gay in 2011. He claimed he hoped the announcement would help those with less supportive families.

He said: “With people killing themselves and being scared into the closet, I hope that even just one person can gain strength from my story.”

A US athlete yesterday became the first to speak out in favour of lesbian and gay people whilst competing on Russian soil, using his victory speech after winning silver, in protest against anti-gay laws passed in June.