As predicted “Uncle Thomas” Roberts, the openly gay MSNBC “journalist” who traveled to Russia to be a “visible and positive representative of gay people” and host the 2013 Miss Universe Pageant totally ignored the subject of Russia’s draconian persecution of its LGBT citizens and the fact that he was gay at all during last nights show. Instead Roberts and ex-Spice Girl Melanie Brown dedicated the show to the people suffering from the typhoon in the Philippines.
“We send our very best, our thoughts. We dedicate tonight’s show to you” Roberts said
Roberts who has been condemned by a majority of the LGBT community for his trip to Russia comparing it to playing Sun City during Apartheid, earlier in the week released a statement saying that his decision was “not about the money” and that he’s had “an incredible experience so far“ did not even wear a rainbow pin or ribbon to show solidarity during the broadcast.
GLAAD, formerly as the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation did not condemned Roberts decision to travel to Russia and host the show but instead embraced and supported it.
“I trust that Thomas Roberts is going to leverage every moment of his trip to Moscow to give visibility and voice to the LGBT Russians who are living in such oppressive conditions,” said Wilson Cruz, GLAAD’s National Spokesperson. “LGBT Russians sent a message that LGBT Americans should go to Russia to be out and be vocal allies, and Thomas has clearly heard them. As the world looks to Russia during the Miss Universe pageant and before the Olympics, we look forward to his news reports which shed light on how the anti-LGBT laws negatively impact and hurt everyday people in Russia.”
In actuality twenty-three leading gay and trans activists in Russia have endorsed an overall boycott of Russian products, and a boycott of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, in response to Russia’s recent brutal crackdown on its gay and trans citizens.
But one must begrudgingly give Roberts a little credit because he did take a moment to acknowledge the anti-gay laws on the red carpet while speaking to Russian state-run network RT:
“I know the law is very vague and still hard to interpret for many people. But it is discrimination and that’s definitive. And I don’t think that the LGBT population in Russia or anywhere should be marginalized to that degree. We are not asking for special protection. We’re just asking for equal respect.”
It is unknown if RT aired that segment for the Russian people people to view.
Oh and for those of you who care.
Miss Venezuela, Gabriela Isler. Won the big crown taking the title from Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo. Isler, who hails from Maracay, works on Venezuela’s Venevision television,