Euro 2012 puts spotlight on anti-gay Ukraine
The first openly gay football player in Europe, Marcus Urban (pictured), will join online LGBT campaign organisation AllOut.org for a live-tweet of tonight’s Euro 2012 football game between Ukraine and England to raise awareness of the anti-gay crackdown in Ukraine.
Two anti-gay censorship laws are currently advancing in the Ukrainian Parliament – a co-host of Euro 2012 – with fears it will approve the gay gag rule in a vote that could take place as soon as this week.
The law would make it illegal to say the word “gay” in public.
AllOut.org, with local partners in Ukraine, has launched an international campaign to urge Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to speak up as anti-gay sentiment grows across the country.
“The situation for lesbian and gay people here in Ukraine is urgent, and we need supporters like Marcus and AllOut members all around the world to speak up with us,” said executive director of Ukrainian LGBT organisation Fulcrum, Zoryan Kis.
Leaders from six European Union countries have already refused to attend the tournament games held in the Ukraine in protest.
France, the UK and Sweden sent no government ministers to their respective team games on Monday.
“Leaders are telling Ukraine that they can not reap the benefits of the European community while rejecting its commitment to human rights,” said AllOut.org executive director Andre Banks.
“Euro 2012 has become the focal point for everyone from heads of state to pro-footballers ready to give Ukraine a red card for the country’s ever expanding pattern of human rights abuses.”
Urban said he had to quit his career 20 years ago because of the pressure to conform in professional football.
“Even now, just a few days ago, an Italian forward playing at Euro 2012 said that he hopes there are no gay players in his team,” he said.
“He is a typical example of how little football has advanced on this issue in the last two decades. As a matter of fact, there are no openly gay players at the Euro 2012 at all.”
If you’re an early riser, you can follow the Ukraine v. UK live-tweet event with Marcus Urban from 4.30am tomorrow (Sydney time) or catch up via
twitter.com/allout
INFO: www.AllOut.org
Yes Carl, just like any gay ‘propaganda’ in St Petersburg Russia. This rule was voted on and put into law just weeks ago and prohibits anything that could be deemed as promoting a gay lifestyle including banners, safe sex ads, magazines like Star Observer…
“The law would make it illegal to say the word “gay” in public.”
Is this for real?