July 22, 2013 | Sex & Society

Improving life for Russia's LGBT community

Russia is  increasingly marginalizing its gay citizens, just as the Sochi Winter Olympics approaches. Vyhod (Coming Out), one of Russia's biggest gay rights organisations, has been singled out for prosecution because it receives foreign donations. President Putin recently signed a law that makes it illegal to state that you are gay or to hold hands in public. Dozens of Russians protested against the law, and were dragged away by police.

It won't be easy to stop the crackdown in Russia. But international gay rights organization ALL OUT has put together a powerful plan to fight back against Putin:

- Hit them where it hurts – the wallet. Push leaders of countries with big economic links with Russia to speak out, by growing our petition to a million signatures and delivering it to key ministers. \

- Create a storm at the Winter Olympics. Russia hosts the Olympics next year and all eyes will be on them. We could use social media, advertising and petition deliveries to pressure big sponsors like Coca-Cola to speak out.

- Build a powerful media presence. Organise press briefings to inspire journalists to write about the Russia crackdown and the courageous people in Russia standing up to the attacks. Over time, that could build into a global media narrative powerful enough to threaten Russia’s reputation and economic interests.

- Take it to the streets. Track the movements of President Putin and senior government ministers, so we can mobilise All Out members across the world to take to the streets wherever they travel.

- Culture is power. Russian punk protesters have shown how music and culture can be a powerful force against tyranny. When A-list musicians plan to tour Russia, we could launch big email and social media campaigns to ask them to speak out against the crackdown.

You can make a difference by contributing to AllOut.org.