With the approach of the Sochi Winter Olympics, questions about Russia’s anti-gay policies continue to attract international attention. One Russian activist visted U of T this week, speaking out on behalf of Russian LGBTQ athletes.

The co-president of the Russian LGBTQ Sports Federation, Konstantin Iablotckii, spoke at Hart House on November 22. He delivered the keynote address of OutSport Toronto’s third annual SCRUM, a conference on LGBTQ sport and recreation. Speakers included Hart House warden Bruce Kidd, Toronto Centre MPP Glen Murray, Toronto-Danforth MP Craig Scott, and NDP Critic on LGBTQ issues, Randall Garrison.

In the past year the Russian government has passed homophobic legislation, and mounted homophobic propaganda campaigns that threaten the safety of the Russian LGBTQ community.

Iablotckii explained that the anti-LGBTQ movement in Russia is still young. He said that prior to 2010, gay sporting events received positive media attention in Russia. Recently however, the media have demonized the LGBTQ community.

Iablotckii is promoting the Russian LGBTQ Sports Federation’s plans to host “the Open Games.” These are to be a LGBTQ sporting event that will be held in between the Olympics and the Paralympics. The hope is that this event will create a positive image of the Russian LGBTQ community.

Iablotckii and his organization are trying to establish a Pride House in Sochi, a safe place for LGBTQ athletes. So far the project has been denied by the Russian government.

Iablotckii does not advocate for a boycott of the Olympics. Instead, he asked for support for the Open Games, the Pride House, and support from the Canadian government and athletes.

Iablotckii said that Canada’s support is vital to showing the Russian government that this issue is being taken seriously internationally. He also urged Canadians not to forget about LGBTQ Russians and anti-gay legislation in Russia after the Olympics are over. He predicts that after the games, when Russia is no longer under the international microscope, the situation for LGBTQ Russians will get much worse.

Bruce Kidd, Hart House’s warden and a former Olympian, emphasized that, as U of T’s co-curricular college, Hart House is a place of inclusivity and diversity. “We are proud that we have been shoulder-to-shoulder with the efforts to win full rights for LGBTIQs and other oppressed minorities for decades.”

Glen Murray, the openly gay MPP of Toronto Centre and minister of transportation and infrastructure, spoke about the struggles of the Canadian LGBTQ community. Referring to the crowd, mostly made up of LGBTQ activists, he exclaimed: “We clawed our way up to our rights!”

MPP Randall Garrison called for all Canadians to demand better of their government. He spoke of the call for a visa ban on the authors of anti-gay legislation, the demand for a consular officer in Sochi for LGBTQ issues, and the initiative for space to be made in Canada House to host Pride House.

As the night went on, an impromptu auction began, selling four t-shirts at $200 each. The proceeds will go to the Russian Open Games’ Paypal campaign. The Open Games hopes to raise $200,000 through their Paypal campaign and other efforts.