Stoli CEO issues open letter to LGBT community
Fri. July 26, 2013 11:05 AM by GoPride.com News Staff
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photo credit // facebook
Queer Nation: Boycott continues
Stolichnaya, one of the most popular vodkas in the United States, is responding to a call by gay and lesbian groups for a boycott of Russian products, including Stolichnaya and other vodkas.
"Stolichnaya Premium Vodka stands strong & proud with the global LGBT community against the actions and beliefs of the Russian government," the company said on its Facebook page.
In addition to the Facebook posting, Val Mendeleev, Stolichnaya's chief executive office, issued an open letter to the Advocate on Thursday, stating he was "upset and angry" by the "recent dreadful actions taken by the Russian government limiting the rights of the LGBT community."
On June 30, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law that bans "gay propaganda." The law prohibits any positive talk or display of homosexuality. Violators of the law face hefty fines and foreigners found guilty can be jailed for two weeks and then deported.
Earlier this month, four Dutch tourists shooting a film about gay rights in Russia became the first foreigners to be arrested and detained under the new law.
In a released statement, Queer Nation, which has called for a worldwide boycott of Russian vodka, responded to Mendeleev's letter, "A single open letter that was discreetly placed with a single gay publication in the US will not help LGBT Russians nor will it have an impact on the Russian government's anti-gay campaign."
The LGBT-rights group also argued Stoli's connection to the Russian government.
"By its own admission, SPI Group operates in Russia and pays taxes to the Russian government. That money funds these continuing attacks on LGBT people and organizations in Russia," said Queer Nation, which added that the boycott will continue until the 'gay propaganda' law was repealed and "the Russian government could guarantee the safety of its LGBT citizens."
Gay rights activist Dan Savage, who has been a vocal supporter of the boycott, also tried to draw a connection in a recent blog post. "Stoli is a Russian vodka," concluded Savage.
Stoli's connection to the Russian government is unargueably complicated and Scott Shackford offered another perspective in a post on Reason.com. He argued one consequence from the boycott could be that Stoli owner Yuri Scheffler, a powerful businessman who supports the gay community, could lose his company to the Russian government, which has laid claim to the Stolichnaya brand name.
Chicago gay bars say "nyet" to Russian vodka
On Wednesday, Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted, and The Call (Chicago), 1547 W Bryn Mawr, announced they were removing Stolichnaya and other Russian products. Six other Chicago gay bars joined the ban on Thursday, including including Elixir Lounge, 3452 N Halsted; Halsted's Bar and Grill, 3441 N Halsted; Hydrate Nightclub, 3458 N. Halsted; Replay Beer & Bourbon, 3439 N Halsted; and Parlour on Clark, 6341 N Clark.
(Read more)
Worldwide support on Russian vodka ban
The UK's G-A-Y group, which also owns Heaven nightclub, has stopped serving Russian vodka. Following the lead of other UK and US based bars, the Fountainhead Pub and Celebrities Nightclub in Vancourver, Canada, have also pulled Russian vodka brands.
"Stolichnaya Premium Vodka stands strong & proud with the global LGBT community against the actions and beliefs of the Russian government," the company said on its Facebook page.
In addition to the Facebook posting, Val Mendeleev, Stolichnaya's chief executive office, issued an open letter to the Advocate on Thursday, stating he was "upset and angry" by the "recent dreadful actions taken by the Russian government limiting the rights of the LGBT community."
On June 30, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law that bans "gay propaganda." The law prohibits any positive talk or display of homosexuality. Violators of the law face hefty fines and foreigners found guilty can be jailed for two weeks and then deported.
Earlier this month, four Dutch tourists shooting a film about gay rights in Russia became the first foreigners to be arrested and detained under the new law.
In a released statement, Queer Nation, which has called for a worldwide boycott of Russian vodka, responded to Mendeleev's letter, "A single open letter that was discreetly placed with a single gay publication in the US will not help LGBT Russians nor will it have an impact on the Russian government's anti-gay campaign."
The LGBT-rights group also argued Stoli's connection to the Russian government.
"By its own admission, SPI Group operates in Russia and pays taxes to the Russian government. That money funds these continuing attacks on LGBT people and organizations in Russia," said Queer Nation, which added that the boycott will continue until the 'gay propaganda' law was repealed and "the Russian government could guarantee the safety of its LGBT citizens."
Gay rights activist Dan Savage, who has been a vocal supporter of the boycott, also tried to draw a connection in a recent blog post. "Stoli is a Russian vodka," concluded Savage.
Stoli's connection to the Russian government is unargueably complicated and Scott Shackford offered another perspective in a post on Reason.com. He argued one consequence from the boycott could be that Stoli owner Yuri Scheffler, a powerful businessman who supports the gay community, could lose his company to the Russian government, which has laid claim to the Stolichnaya brand name.
Chicago gay bars say "nyet" to Russian vodka
On Wednesday, Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted, and The Call (Chicago), 1547 W Bryn Mawr, announced they were removing Stolichnaya and other Russian products. Six other Chicago gay bars joined the ban on Thursday, including including Elixir Lounge, 3452 N Halsted; Halsted's Bar and Grill, 3441 N Halsted; Hydrate Nightclub, 3458 N. Halsted; Replay Beer & Bourbon, 3439 N Halsted; and Parlour on Clark, 6341 N Clark.
(Read more)
Worldwide support on Russian vodka ban
The UK's G-A-Y group, which also owns Heaven nightclub, has stopped serving Russian vodka. Following the lead of other UK and US based bars, the Fountainhead Pub and Celebrities Nightclub in Vancourver, Canada, have also pulled Russian vodka brands.