Visit Principle6.org to Order American Apparel #P6 t-shirts, hoodies, and More
Big news: American Apparel has joined the Principle 6 campaign with Athlete Ally and All Out!
Since we launched the Principle 6 campaign for equality in Russia with our partner All Out, thousands of people have taken action to urge the International Olympic Committee to act. Under pressure, the IOC confirmed that Principle 6 of the Olympic Charter, which describes discrimination as “incompatible with belonging to the Olympic movement”, does apply to discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. And yet, just weeks before the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, it’s still illegal to say the word “gay” in public.
That’s why American Apparel has joined the campaign by launching a line of clothing that supports Principle 6 and provides athletes and fans with a way to stand in solidarity ahead of the Games.
Visit Principle6.org to view and order the clothing.
The Olympic Committee bans athletes from making political statements during the Games, and the Russian authorities will likely crack down on anyone who speaks openly in support of LGBT athletes and fans. But we won’t be silenced. By celebrating Principle 6, we have created a way for fans and athletes to legally challenge the anti-gay laws in Russia and stand up for equality.
The launch of the Principle 6 campaign has earned support from athletes around the world, including Sochi-bound Australian snowboarder Belle Brockhoff (pictured above), who recently came out in response to Russia’s anti-LGBT laws
Reports of violent attacks on LGBT people in Russia have been rising since the anti-gay laws were passed. Now, more than ever, we have a chance to use the attention of the Winter Games and the spirit of the Olympic movement to demand equality in Russia.
Athletes supporting Principle 6:
Sochi-bound Olympians, including snowboarder Belle Brockhoff, speed skater Blake Skjellerup and alpine skier Mike Janyk are just a few of the on-site ambassadors in Russia who will promote the Principle 6 message. Additional Olympic athletes engaged in the campaign include four time Olympic gold medal diver Greg Louganis, four time Olympic luger Cameron Myler, who is now a legal scholar, attorney, adjunct professor of International Sports Governance and Legal Issues in Sports at New York University, two time Olympic middle-distance runner Nick Symmonds, who immediately after winning the Silver Medal at this past August’s World Championship in Moscow, dedicated the win to his gay and lesbian friends and openly criticized Russia’s anti-gay laws.
Other Olympians that have signed on to support the campaign include Australian tennis player and four time Olympian Rennae Stubbs, ParaPan Am gold medalist archer Lee Ford, figure skater Mark Janoschak, soccer players Hedvig Lindahl, Lori Lindsey, gold medalist Megan Rapinoe and Chris Setiz, runner Ciarán Ó Lionáird, wrestler Ben Provisor and rower Esther Lofgren.
Professional athletes also involved in the campaign include NFL players Brendon Ayanbadejo, Scott Fujita, Chris Kluwe, and Donté Stallworth; tennis players Martina Navratilova, Andy Roddick, James Blake and Mardy Fish; MLS players Stephen McCarthy and Robbie Rogers; NBA/WNBA players Steve Nash, Jason Collins, Teresa Edwards and Kristi Toliver; and rugby player David Pocock.
Proceeds from sale of the clothing line will directly support lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) advocacy groups in Russia fighting discrimination and anti-gay laws. See Principle6.org for more details.