SOCHI, RUSSIA — An Italian activist shouting “It’s OK to be gay” and dressed in a rainbow-colored outfit and large headdress was detained Monday as she entered an arena to watch an Olympic hockey game.
Vladimir Luxuria, a former Communist lawmaker in the Italian Parliament who has become a prominent transgender rights crusader and television personality, was stopped at a ticket inspection barrier at the arena just before an evening game. Four men who were not wearing identification surrounded her and shouted, “Take her away.” They led her out of the venue and to the parking lot.
Luxuria said she was kept in the car for about 10 minutes, then released in the countryside after the men had taken away her Olympic spectator pass. She eventually made it back to her hotel and said she was leaving Russia on Tuesday morning.
“They don’t say anything. They just were people who had to do this, and they did it,” Luxuria said.
Luxuria said the men were Russian police who told her she should not wear clothes with slogans supporting gay rights. Police denied detaining her. The Associated Press
