Yesterday, activist group Queer Nation came down hard on Dutch gold medalist speedskater Ireen Wüst after she gave an interview to Dutch media and expressed excitement about "cuddling" with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Said Wüst:
"I got a cuddle from him. He
congratulated me and asked if everything was OK in Russia and I
congratulated him on (Russian speedskater) Olga Graf, of course, for her
third place (in the 3,000 meters). He was happy to see me, but then he
had to leave again. But I cuddled him."
Wrote Queer Nation's Duncan Osborne in a press release:
“The Olympic athletes have said that they
will not make political statements during the Games yet that is exactly
what Ireen Wust did. By embracing Vladimir Putin, a man who has
trampled on the human rights of LGBT Russians, political dissidents,
artists, undocumented immigrants, and others in Russia, Wust has
endorsed his fascist agenda....LGBT Russians and political dissidents
are showing us what courage and commitment look like. Embracing Vladimir
Putin is a betrayal of that courage and commitment. Wust should be
ashamed of herself. Every athlete in Sochi should understand that the
whole world is watching. We cannot make the athletes show the sort of
courage that LGBT Russians display, but we will not be silent and we
will not forget if the athletes embrace Putin.”
Couldn't agree more with Queer Nation.
Awhile back, in an interview, Wüst revealed that it was initially a struggle to admit that she had
fallen in love with a woman, since she had always pictured herself being
happy with a husband and children. She initially wished away the
attraction and that she could take a pill to undo her feelings. She was
also afraid that people would pigeonhole her as a lesbian athlete. "Will
you then be known as Ireen the speedskater or Ireen who has a
girlfriend? That was a struggle," she tells the interviewer. Later in
the conversation, she notes that she’s also attracted to men and is
bisexual. Meanwhile, in the Dutch daily AD, Wüst responded
to a gay former politician who had said that since she could be jailed
in Russia because of her sexuality, she had an obligation to make a
statement supporting LGBTQ rights while in Sochi. Wüst acknowledged that
things were bad for LGBT people in Russia, but she says the anti-gay
law is a "political thing that should be discussed by politicians. … I'm
just there to skate very fast. I can't do anything about it, and I
won't. As if a well-known Dutch person can change the situation in
Russia!" She continues, "I'm not going to make a statement, it's not my
place to do so."
The Towleroad also doesn't point out the fact, that Wüst is in a committed relationship with a man.
I hardly consider someone who was in a one time affair with someone of the same sex, for a time that she said was only a few months, hardly qualifies her as gay/bisexual.
As for her saying she wasn't going to make a statement at the Olympics, well, I guess she was lying huh?
I think she made a huge statement...so long as it doesn't effect her, screw all them Russian faggots.
Pretty much what every Olympian is doing...so much for sport bringing out the best in people...no wonder the IOC doesn't give a rats ass about gay rights or any other political issue, they are merely reflective of the people they represent!
1 comment:
Sports breeds fag bashers they all suck in my eyes.
Post a Comment