IN SOLIDARITY

Chris Pine On Russia’s Anti-Gay Laws: It’s “Awful, Archaic, Hostile Nonsense”

Chris_PineActor Chris Pine, better known to Trekkies as Captain James T. Kirk (and to Queerty staff as the second best ass of 2013), has joined literally everyone with a brain and common sense in condemning Russia’s anti-gay legislation ahead of the 2014 Winter Olympics taking place in Sochi next month.

The laws banning the promotion of “gay propaganda” are “clearly awful, archaic, hostile nonsense,” he said during a recent interview. “I think we should do more than just send gay Olympians there…what’s happening there in terms of gay rights or the lack of it is extraordinary and awful.”

After a worldwide campaign attempting to boycott the 2014 Winter Olympics over safety concerns for LGBT athletes and tourists, the IOC decided earlier this year to move forward with the Games in a homophobic country while doing little to secure the safety of attendees and participants. President Obama joins the Presidents of France and Germany in skipping a trip to Sochi this year, appointing openly gay delegates to represent the United States in his place.

Though no one is entirely sure how Russia will enforce the archaic laws next month, NBC has committed a chunk of coverage to addressing issues facing LGBTs in the country. “If Putin doesn’t drag his butt into the studio, then we’ll talk about [Russian anti-gay laws] without him,” sportscaster Bob Costas told the press last week. “But if he shows up, we’d rather talk to him.”

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