Europe’s First Openly Trans Politician Arrested In Sochi
A former Italian MP stood outside the main spectator entrance to the Olympics this weekend clad in a skirt with gay-pride rainbow colors waiving a rainbow umbrella and fan. “I have come here with a rainbow flag because a man named Vladimir Putin is homophobic,” she said.
Vladimir Luxuria, 48, Europe’s first openly transgender parliamentarian and prominent gay rights activist, was arrested by police in the Olympic Park as she held up a banner with the words “Gay is OK” written on it in Russian. Though officers treated her with respect during her detention, she said she was told she was not allowed to display pro-gay slogans in public.
We refer to her as ‘she,’ even though she has stated that she does not consider herself male or female.
Sochi organizing committee spokeswoman Alexandra Kosterina said: “We’ve talked to police and they have told us there is no record whatsoever to any detention or arrest.”
The Italian consulate in Moscow was unable to confirm the arrest, but has activated its crisis unit, a procedure typically undertaken to help Italian citizens in trouble when they travel abroad, a spokesperson said. The foreign ministry had no further comment.
It was later reported that Luxuria had been released.
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