US sex writer, Dan Savage, widely known for his online campaign against homophobic senator Rick Santorum, has joined forces with gay and lesbian activists in Russia in order to protest against the countries persecution of homosexuals, they decided to target what Russia loves the most, their vodka.
To shine a much needed light on new laws allowing police officers to arrest tourists and foreign nationals suspected of being homosexual or “pro-gay,” Savage called for a vodka boycott.
US sex writer Dan Savage:
To show our solidarity with Russian queers and their allies and to help to draw international attention to the persecution of gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, trans people and straight allies in Vladimir Putin’s increasingly fascistic Russia: dump Russian vodka.
The campaign, called #DumpStoli, has been backed by Queer Nation and the Russian-American group Rusa LGBT.
A reported six bars in Chicago said they would not be selling Russian products and a seventh bar had completely withdrawn Stolichnaya. The campaign has already shown signs of success with Stolichnaya criticising Russia’s record on lesbian and gay rights.
The premium vodka brand also posted on their official Facebook page, “Stolichnaya Premium Vodka stands strong and proud with the global LGBT community against the actions and beliefs of the Russian government.”
[Source: The Guardian]
