make a difference in people’s lives,” John Esposito, President of Stoli Group USA, said in an email to Queerty. “Through our network we were lucky enough to be introduced to the Russia Freedom Fund which will directly help LGBT activists on the ground in Russia. Over the next two years, we hope our donation of $150K will help stimulate positive, lasting change for LGBT people living in Russia. We continue to stand with the worldwide LGBT community against their discrimination and their pursuit of justice and equality.”
Activist/sex columnist Dan Savage helped initiate the DumpStoliVodka campaign last summer. Now he has reversed course. “The important thing is to help Russian gays and lesbians who are being persecuted in Russia right now,” Savage said in a statement. “Sending 100% of funds raised to organizations working in Russia is the right thing to do, that’s why I’m supporting the Russia Freedom Fund.”
Tonight LGBT bars across the country will participate in a nationwide fundraising event called Uprising of Love, vowing to donate $1 for each drink sold between 9 p.m. to midnight to the Russia Freedom Fund.
So go out and raise a toast to all your brothers and sisters in Russia tonight.
“Vashe Zdorovie!”
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Jackhoffsky
OOO… yeah. Um, I’m not there yet. Sooo… whiskey for me. Thanks.
Cam
Why would I buy Stoli which is produced with Russian Grain and made in anti-gay Latvia when I can buy Kettle One produced in Pro-Gay Marriage Holland or Grey Goose produced in Pro Gay Marriage France?
I get that Queerty has been trying to push Stoli this whole time, but give it a rest.
PhxonIce
The is total crap, the boycott ends when the discrimination ends and not a moment before. Nothing Russian in this house and nothing Russian will be consumed knowingly outside of it either.
Lazycrockett
Stoli is shit to begin with.
blackout_boycott
We here at BLACKOUT BOYCOTT has no intentions to stop a boycott against Russia and the Olympic Games. We are a Gay Community that does not need donations from corporate companies. We volunteer our time to checkup on the latest to inform the public of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Trangender, and HIV AIDS victims.
We total believe that the Boycott of Chicago Gay Bars that has been canceled is a huge mistake. Your letting your own people down. But sending funds to Russia is a huge mistake as well. That money will not get to them, and if it did, the government or vigilante groups will get it to further abuse, rape, murder the LGBT community of Russia.
Even our own television networks are censored from publishing anything that is for coverage of the Anti Gay Laws in effect in Russia.
BLACKOUT BOYCOTT HAS BEEN ACTIVATED AGAINST THE SOCHI WINTER OLYMPICS AND THE BUSINESSES THAT IS SUPPORTING THE ANTIGAY LAWS. LISTED BUSINESSES IS COCA COLA, ALL BRANDS OF RUSSIAN VODKA, BP OIL, GENERAL ELECTRIC CORP.. BLACKOUT BOYCOTT WILL NOT END UNTIL THE GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER IS BACK LEGAL, AND FREE TO BE WHO THEY ARE (HUMAN BEINGS), AND NOT WHAT THERE TITLED!
nastypigsub
Hate to break it to you folks, but this had absolutely NOTHING to do with the treatment of gays in Russia for one single minute. The owners have managed to keep the real reason they started the whole shit pretty quiet in the gay media. The whole thing was to punish Stoli because the owners of Sidetracks wanted to host the Stoli Guy contest in the Chicago market. Instead Stoli gave the Chicago contest to a competing bar. They were pissed off and this all happened at the same time that the horrible images of the way gays are being treated started coming out of Russia. They used it as the perfect opportunity to stir up shit for Stoli and make themselves look good in the GLBT press.
That being said what is happening to our GLBT brothers and sisters in Russia is horrible. But shame on Sidetracks for trying to use it as a revenge tactic and promote their business.
DShucking
Has it been demonstrated that this boycott will hurt the Russian economy or is it just symbolic?
Mezaien
NEVER! end ban On Stoli Vodka, or any Russian, products.
DarkZephyr
The article clearly spells out that Stoli is not from Russia and that it’s always been a supporter of LGBT rights. How does boycotting it make sense? None of its profits go to Russia.
blackout_boycott
We have not lifted the ban against Russia because of the misuse of there antigay laws of the LGBT. The LGBT org that took money in order to fund there programs to defend LGBT rights in Russia.
we here at BLACKOUT BOYCOTT HEADQUARTERS did not start our BOYCOTT against Russia because of jealous losers of a contest in America. We started the Boycott against Russia for there misuse of the antigay laws.
The government paid vigilante groups to set up, and convict on site. They torched a man, saying he was gay, by cutting his genitalia and leaving him to die with no medical help. All this was known on or before the Sochi Olympics, filmed by the vigilante groups, and female leader of the groups.
It was and still is publicized on youtube, and nothing is censored.
So, don’t tell us here at BLACKOUT BOYCOTT HEADQUARTERS in the USA, this is over.
This Boycott will continue against Russia until they change there laws, and free our LGBT members. I used to drink Vodka, but no longer sense this nonsense of killing, maiming, beatings of the LBGT people.