A Times Square event celebrating the
100-day countdown to the Winter Olympics in Sochi was protested
Tuesday by roughly 2 dozen gay rights activists.
The demonstrators yelled, “Homophobia's
gotta go,” and unfurled banners which read, “Don't Buy Putin's
Lies.”
The protesters rallied from a nearby
sidewalk as athletes began to speak at the U.S. Olympic Committee's
(USOC) event.
Legislation signed into law by
President Vladimir Putin in June prohibiting the promotion of “gay
propaganda” in public has provoked worldwide condemnation and calls
for boycotts against Russian-made exports and international events
taking place in Russia, including the Sochi Games.
Duncan Osbourne, a member of Queer
Nation NY, was quoted by USA
Today as saying that the law
is a “violation of human rights.”
Osbourne said that the demonstration,
which lasted 30 minutes, was hastily organized after the group
learned about the USOC event.
On Monday, Putin
pledged to make gay athletes and guests attending the Sochi Games
“feel comfortable.”