Make a stand against the anti-LGBT policies of Putin’s Russia at your local Happy Hour.
There has been an increase of anti-LGBT violence in Russia after discriminatory legislation targeting the LGBT community was passed last year. Now, doing something to fight discrimination is as easy as going to your local happy hour.
When Russia announced its ban of a Pride House event in Sochi, Uprising of Love, a global movement in support of the safety and dignity of LGBTI Russians. Pride House International, Flip@Radarworks, and Outsports decided to launch Uprising of Love: Pride House 2014 to show Americans’ support for LGBT Russians and Olympians.
This Friday, during the Opening Ceremonies of the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games, restaurants, bars and clubs across the nation will donate $1 of every drink sold from 9 p.m. to midnight as part of a new national initiative called Uprising of Love: Pride House 2014.
All proceeds raised during the three-hour timeframe will be donated to the Russia Freedom Fund to support Russian LGBT activists.
Restaurants, bars, clubs and other commercial establishments in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Chicago and New York will participate in Uprising of Love: Pride House 2014. To encourage supporters to visit their local Pride House on Friday, LGBT activists and YouTube stars Colby Melvin and Brandon Brown created a promotional video that can be viewed online here.
Additionally, the City of West Hollywood issued a proclamationon Monday declaring Feb. 7 as Uprising of Love: Pride House 2014 Day, with almost a dozen popular venues becoming Pride Houses for the evening.
Uprising of Love is Inspired by the original song by Melissa Etheridge, Uprising of Love, this movement is supported by prominent individuals in entertainment, sports, business, and politics and a number of LGBTI and human rights organizations. Launched in December 2013, Uprising of Love strives to support the LGBTI community in Russia and raise awareness of this cause internationally.