Parties & PeopleWinter Olympics Alternative Opening Ceremony

Winter Olympics Alternative Opening Ceremony

07/02/14: In over ten years as Editor at QX, I’ve never seen a more passionate response to international homophobia than that against Russia’s anti-propaganda law.

The legislation was introduced by President Putin last June, ironically days before our own Pride celebrations. At the time, I pictured Putin sat in his Kremlin stroking his white fluffy pussy maniacally plotting his plans to reverse any progress that Russia had made since the end of the USSR, laughing how he and his Russian Orthodox cronies were sticking two fingers up at the recent international advancements in LGBT rights. While we were introducing same-sex marriage, they would suppress the freedoms of countless LGBT Russians. Soon after came the Uganda and India controversies. In less than six months, tens of millions of LGBT people around the world have seen their freedoms constricted to a frighteningly choked degree.

The initial outcry against Russia was a boycott of the Sochi Winter Olympics. Gay rights activists soon realised that the best course of action was not for athletes to boycott the Games, but to attend en masse and speak out. Peter Tatchell and myself united with AllOut.org to initialise protests in major international cities ahead of last September’s G20 summit with the intention of forcing politicians to highlight the issue with Putin. These events made international headlines.

As the weeks progressed, the efforts of the gay rights movement gathered momentum. The focus then shifted to the International Olympic Committee’s inadequate response to pressurise Russia to adhere to a Fundamental Principle of Olympism: “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.”

The next target was the lack of reaction from the key sponsors of the Games: McDonalds, Coca-Cola, Panasonic, and others all remained silent. On the eve of the Games, the Peter Tatchell Foundation alongside All Out gathered opposite Downing Street to vocalize their anger at the sponsors. Paul O’Grady, Chris Bryant and Jonny Woo joined the action. A petition of well over 100,000 signatures was handed to the Head of UK Communications at McDonalds.

The finale to six months of activism reached a vibrant, show-stopping bang when Jonny Woo staged the ‘Winter Olympics Alternative Opening Ceremony’. The gay scene united to show support with a host of clubs, DJs, drag queens, cabaret artists and more all turning it out to vocalize their appreciation for the tireless efforts of Peter Tatchell. He and his tremendous team of volunteers continue to fight inequality – a battle that is funded purely through the donations of the concerned public.

Songs were sung, raps were made, tits were displayed and wigs were frayed as the night exploded in a hailstorm of glitter and gay rights joyousness. Peter Tatchell received rapturous applause on stage and Jonny Woo watched on as the gay scene joined the LGBT community to herald a campaign that has seen the likes of Channel 4, Google, Brewdog beer and Buzzfeed all visualise and vocalise support for LGBT Russians.

Would it all have been possible without the passion of people like Peter Tatchell or the creative genius of Jonny Woo highlighting the cause? Not a chance. Would they have been able to do all this without your support? No way.

We are the gay scene: United we dance, divided we just masturbate alone!

 

• With MASSIVE thanks to those who donated their time and talents to last week’s event: Jonny Woo, Gay Bingo, Batty Bass, Sink The Pink, Handsome, Wetyourself. DJs Hannah Holland, Josh Caffe, Jodie Harsh, Kris Di Angelis, The Lovely Jonjo, Cormac, Dave Kendrick, John Sizzle, James Phillips, Feral Is Kinky, Mama, Qboy, Glyn Famous, Holestar, Maude Adams And All Those Children, Princess Julia, Daniel Lismore, Martyn Fitzgerald, Ma Butcher, Jonbenet, Jacqui Potato and Ollywood.

 

*At the time of going to press an estimated £3.5-4k was raised for the Peter Tatchell Foundation.

Lime Wharf, Vyner Street, E2 9DJ
Words by Cliff Joannou
Photos by Dos Fotos

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