Interesting commentary - Elton John: Why I performed in Russia
There was a lot of speculation about whether I would go to Russia this year. Many people outside the country thought I should boycott Russia because of its new homophobic legislation. Others said I must go to challenge the government.
I decided in the end to be guided by what Russian people wanted me to do. The message, from even the most marginalised Russian groups we work with at the Elton John AIDS Foundation, was "please come". If you don't come, Aids workers and LGBT activists told us, we will feel isolated. We will miss having your voice in our debate. It might be interpreted that you don't care. Or we may be blamed for keeping you away.
In Moscow I spent hours with gay activists, federal doctors, human rights lawyers and people living with HIV. They told me that since the new legislation has been adopted it's getting harder and harder to deliver basic HIV information or healthcare to gay men for fear of seeming to "promote" homosexuality, which is against the law. Gay people lie even to their children about their sexuality, in case it jeopardises their families.
As the Winter Olympics approaches, I know lots of athletes and artists are facing the same choice that I faced. I realise not everyone will share my view. But personally I hope and pray that prominent people will go to Russia and challenge the wrong thinking of this law. It breeds isolation, mistrust and hate, and cannot be how Russia wants to be known by the world.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/11/elton-john-why-went-to-russia-anti-gay-laws-hiv
I did not know Elton John had performed in Russia recently. There must have been many who thought that a boycott of Russia was more appropriate. John certainly thought through his reasons for going. It will be interesting to see how the athletes at the Winter Olympics handle things.
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