NEWS: New Petition Urges Team GB To Wear Rainbow Flags

<p>A petition has been created to ask members of Team GB to wear rainbow colours in solidarity with Russian LGBTs.</p> <p>by Newsdesk | 5th August 2013</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>• Petition calls for Olympians to wear rainbow colours at the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014.</p><p>• Petition goes live as many bars across the world continue to boycott Russian produced vodka</p><p>• Petitioners hope for Olympians to speak out against human rights violations.</p><p></p><p></p><p>The petition hosted at Change.org is asking members of Team GB to wear rainbow colours at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, because ‘Russia are [sic] acting against human rights.’</p><p></p><p>The petition that was created by Jade Rayment of Cardiff, has already attracted 227 supporters within days of it going live.</p><p></p><p>In June, President Putin signed into law a bill that could see citizens promoting “non-traditional relationships” to anyone under 18 face hefty fines and prison. </p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.thegayuk.com/magazine/4574334751/UK-Government-Updates-Advice-For-LGBT-Travellers-To-Russia/6208796">The UK Government has updated its advice for LGBT Travellers to Russia, after TheGayUK contacted the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.</a></p><p></p><p>The law has been criticised widely as a countrywide crackdown on Russia’s LGBT community. </p><p></p><p>The worldwide LGBT community has responded in a number of ways including petitions and a boycott on Russian produced vodka. </p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.thegayuk.com/magazine/4574334751/NEWS-Gay-Bars-In-Leeds-Dump-Russian-Vodka-In-Time-For-Leeds-Pride/6235908">Last week every gay bar in Leeds committed to boycotting Russian produced vodka just in time for Leeds Pride weekend.</a></p><p></p><p>The petition:</p><p></p><p>As UK citizens we enjoy a quality of life that few other places in the world can appreciate. This is our privilege, and one of the many reasons that a life elsewhere is so coveted; we enjoy many rights and freedoms that are easy to take for granted.</p><p> </p><p>The Winter Olympics has always been a time to shine. We all get excited when we watch our countries compete on a world stage in the sports we excel at best. They are a great teaching tool to teach kids about different nations and cultures, and there’s always a special thrill of excitement and national pride when the games come. </p><p> </p><p>Russia, the next site for the Olympic Winter Games in 2014, is committing some horrible human rights violations. We cannot turn a blind eye to the plight of not only Russian citizens, but those citizens of other nations that are endangered by the anti-LGBT laws that have been created in this part of the world. We need to stand up and put pressure on them to change. </p><p> </p><p> This not intended to punish the athletes who have worked hard for this opportunity. It is our hope that all Olympians will stand with us and speak out against these violations, and let the world know that we cannot in good conscience Stand by and allow such atrocities, stand with us, be proud.</p><p></p><p>To sign the petition <a href="http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/team-gb-wear-rainbow-colours-at-the-sochi-2014-winter-olympic-games">click here</a></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Related Stories:</p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.thegayuk.com/magazine/4574334751/OPINION-Will-Sochi-Haunt-The-Olympic-Movement/6269304">OPINION: Will Sochi Haunt The Olympic Movement</a></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.thegayuk.com/magazine/4574334751/RUSSIA-First-Study-Of-HIV-Amongst-Gay-Men-and-Prositutes/6263552">RUSSIA: First Study Of HIV Amongst Gay Men and Prostitutes</a></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.thegayuk.com/null">NEWS: Petiton To Putin Reaches over 221,000 Signatures</a></p> <p> </p>