RUSSIA: New Zealand Speed skater Blake Skjellerup, says Russia's law banning homosexual propaganda won't keep him from competing in the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics - or speaking his mind during the Games

Record ID: 278018

  • Title: RUSSIA: New Zealand Speed skater Blake Skjellerup, says Russia's law banning homosexual propaganda won't keep him from competing in the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics - or speaking his mind during the Games
  • Date: 21st November 2013
  • Summary: KOLOMNA, RUSSIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF KOLOMNA SPEED SKATING ARENA WHERE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE BEING HELD NEW ZEALAND OLYMPIC SHORT TRACK SPEED SKATER, BLAKE SKJELLERUP, PREPARING SKATES FOR RACE SKATES ON BENCH SKATERS STARTING RACE ICE, THEN SKATERS SKATING BY SKJELLERUP WALKING DOWN STAIRS SKJELLERUP TALKING TO REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW ZEALAND OL
  • Embargoed: 6th December 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Russian Federation
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA6VNGK08FW3UVLX6H7EFY9I51J
  • Story Text: Speed skater Blake Skjellerup is an underdog to win a gold medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi but he hopes to blaze a trail for other gay athletes by simply taking part.
    The 28-year-old New Zealander recently competed outside of Moscow, where he told Reuters he opposes a Russian law banning the spread of "gay propaganda" among minors but, unlike other critics who want a boycott of the Games, he says the best way to change the thinking behind the law is to compete.

    "I do in some way believe that Olympic Games shouldn't be political but, again, the Olympic Games is a movement that's about peace, friendship, humanity and education. And I think this Olympics in Sochi is a time where you can educate people, and people can see that there are differences in society, and that being gay isn't something that is wrong and isn't something that anyone should have to hide or apologise for - and definitely not something that you should be punished for," Skjellerup said.
    Skjellerup was in Russia for a short track qualifying event for the Olympics and is now waiting to find out whether he has qualified for the Games in February.
    If he is lucky enough to make it to Sochi, he says he will not stay silent on the law.

    "I can't not say anything because I know what it was like for me. And I know what it's like for other athletes right now. I've talked to them, I've heard stories about people, and to them, this is the biggest thing. They're like 'Oh my God, Russia is doing this', and there are people who are afraid to come to Russia. And they're afraid to do sport in Russia because of this and that's a pretty sad thing because sport is what these people want to do. It's what I love to do. And to have that taken away by this is I think an extremely upsetting thing," he said.
    Since President Vladimir Putin signed a law in June banning "gay propaganda", Russia has faced criticism from Western governments and calls for a boycott of the Sochi Games, led by LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) organisations.
    Skjellerup says the law's notoriety has helped bring to light discrimination against gays and could lead to changes in perceptions and laws in Russia and elsewhere.

    "The attention that this law has received has been fantastic. The media have given it so much air time, which is the best thing for it. If they were to ignore this, I mean this is exactly what I guess is what they are trying to achieve is to get this through and to not have a reaction. But the world has reacted, and they've reacted in the right way. And what's that saying? What that is saying that most of the world is on the right side of this. You're seeing countries like my own, New Zealand, the UK, many states in the U.S. passing equal marriage rights. And that's something that obviously this country is a long way away from but you've got to start somewhere," Skjellerup said.
    If he qualifies for Sochi, he plans to wear a pin bearing his first name and the rainbow colours of the gay rights movement while not competing. Only official gear can be worn while competing under Olympic regulations.
    He also plans to put copies of the pin on sale soon, with part of the proceeds going to next year's planned Russian Open Games, the country's first LGBT games.
    But competition - wherever - is his main concern, and this law won't affect his metal preparation for the Games.

    "I'm relatively pretty mentally-tough. I guess I can compare this some way to the old Blake who was in the closet and was I guess a different athlete. But now I'm not that person; I'm strong and you can throw anything at me. And I will take it. And I guess these laws are - they're something that I can handle. And I don't think being here has affected me in any way. I think it's actually a greater motivation and encouragement to get in there, to do what I've got to do and to just do my best," Skjellerup told Reuters.
    Russian President Vladimir Putin urged Russians this week not to fuel hatred against "people of non-traditional sexual orientation" and said the new law was intended only to protect children.
    Supporters of the "gay propaganda" law suggest children become gay through exposure to information about homosexuality. LGBT organisations have hit back by saying sexuality is not the result of
    corruption and the ban creates an information vacuum that denies LGBT individuals a place in society.
    LGBTI
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