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Belle Brockhoff, an Australian snowboarder who came out as a lesbian and plans to compete in the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, will appear in Principle 6 merchandise on the American Apparel website as well as on a webiste, principle6.org.  Two organizations, All Out and Athlete Ally, are leading the effort, called Principle 6 after a principle of the charter of the International Olympic Committee that declares any form of discrimination on the grounds of "race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise" to be "incompatible with belonging to the Olympic movement." There are widespread fears that a federal law that took effect in Russia in June, barring "propaganda on nontraditional sexual relationships," is an attempt to suppress homosexuality among Russians and will also discriminate against gay athletes and visitors at the Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.  The proponents of the Principle 6 campaign say it can be effective because it will avoid the Olympic committee's strictures against political statements or demonstrations by using the committee's own language as a rallying cry for nondiscrimination. The line of Principle 6 branded merchandise will bear a rewritten version of the principle's declaration: "Sport does not discriminate on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise." (The paraphrase also serves to avoid another sticky issue: The Olympic committee is zealous in its policing of the use of the words "Olympic" or "Olympics" by anyone other than its members and official sponsors.)  "We needed to come up with a campaign that would enable everyone to speak out," said Hudson Taylor, executive director of Athlete Ally. "Principle 6 is a great opportunity to point out how the Russian law is antithetical to the spirit of the Olympic movement."  Andre Banks, executive director of All Out, said the merchandise "allows us to deliver the Principle 6 message on a scale that would make the campaign incredibly powerful."  American Apparel is to sell the merchandise online, beginning early Monday morning, and in stores around the world, beginning on Jan. 1. The line will include T-shirts, hoodies, hats, bags and underwear. The proceeds from the sales of the merchandise, minus the costs, "will go to benefit Russian L.G.B.T. groups in St. Petersburg and Moscow," Mr. Banks said.  Brian Ellner, a member of the Athlete Ally board, called the merchandise "a safe way for both fans and athletes to be visible and take a stand."  "That's enormously important," he added, "but our greatest challenge remains keeping the world focused on the real violence and intimidation the Russian L.G.B.T. community experiences."  The face of promotions for the merchandise will be Belle Brockhoff, a snowboarder from Australia who plans to compete in Sochi and came out as a lesbian in August. Images of her wearing a Principle 6 T-shirt are to appear on principle6.org as well as the American Apparel website.  Among other athletes who will model merchandise for the Principle 6 website are the tennis player James Blake, the football player Chris Kluwe and the rugby player David Pocock. According to All Out and Athlete Ally, at least four dozen athletes will work on the Principle 6 campaign. Among them are at least two others bound for the Winter Games: Blake Skjellerup, a speed skater from New Zealand, who is gay, and Mike Janyk, a Canadian alpine skier, who is straight. Other athletes with Olympic ties who will help support the campaign include competitors in the Summer Games like Nick Symmonds and former Olympians like Greg Louganis and Cameron Myler.

For More Information Visit Proposition 6 Website 

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    Related Article: To Russia With Love: Athlets Protest Russian Discrimination Law

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