All Out members Send 30K emails to Olympic Committee President Asking, 'Are Gays Excluded from Olympic Charter?'
NEW YORK, NY (PRWEB) October 02, 2013 -- All Out members Send 30K emails to Olympic Committee President Asking, 'Are Gays Excluded from Olympic Charter?'
More than 30,000 All Out (http://www.allout.org) members from around the world have sent email to the new International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach asking whether lesbian, gay, bi and trans people are protected by the Olympic Charter. Many also followed-up with tweets and phone calls to the IOC, leaving messages asking the same question.
Principle 6 of the Olympic Charter reads, "Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement.”
Just last week, the IOC said it is convinced discrimination will not take place during the Sochi Games, despite Russia’s anti-gay laws. The IOC said they do not comment on local laws as long as the Olympic Charter is not violated. They have not yet responded publicly to questions as to how Russia could be considered in line Principle 6 in the face of extreme anti-gay laws, violence, and discrimination.
“The Olympics is hypocritically trying to avoid taking action in the face of Russia's anti-gay crackdown by citing its Charter. But, under Principle 6 of the Olympic Charter, it clearly has a responsibility to keep discrimination out of the Olympic Movement.” said Andre Banks, Executive Director and Co-Founder of All Out.
“The IOC can not make LGBT people an exception to Principle 6. It is time for President Bach to speak up on behalf of the Olympic movement and denounce Russia's anti-gay crackdown before the Games in Sochi.”
In August, All Out members delivered more than 300,000 signatures to the International Olympic Committee headquarters [video]. Members urged the IOC to speak out against Russia’s anti-gay law ahead of the 2014 Winter Games.
To check the live counter of emails sent to the IOC, click here :
https://www.allout.org/en/actions/email-olympics-pres
About All Out:
In 76 countries it is a crime to be gay; in 10 it can cost you your life. All Out is mobilizing millions of people and their social networks to build a powerful global movement for love and equality. Our mission is to build a world where no person will have to sacrifice their family or freedom, safety or dignity, because of who they are or who they love.
Press Contact:
Sara Perle, +1 (347) 541-6160, press(at)allout(dot)org, (English, in USA)
Guillaume Bonnet, +33 6 61 61 57 36, press(at)allout(dot)org (French, English - in France)
Tile Wolfe, All Out, http://www.allout.org, +1 (917) 426-4228, [email protected]
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