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In Moscow to co-host Miss Universe, Thomas Roberts speaks out on Russia’s anti-gay propaganda law
Thomas Roberts will co-host Saturday’s Miss Universe pageant in Moscow and is not sure if it will be mentioned on the air that he is gay.
Roberts is in Russia with husband Patrick Abner and would be perfectly happy if it was.
‘If people and the viewers at home that are watching learn more about me and know that I’m married and my husband is here, I think that’s fantastic,’ he says in an interview with Agence France Presse.
‘I don’t know if I’m here to promote gay rights, I think I’m here to promote that people like me deserve equal rights, because we are no different than any one else.’
Thomas, an anchor for MSNBC and one of the most high-profile gay newsmen in the US, has some blunt criticism for Russia and its anti-gay propaganda law.
‘The Russian laws obviously are a dark time and a dark chapter in LGBT history here,’ he says. ‘They’re seeking a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist and meanwhile it causes new problems because it allows people to abuse and hurt and vilify the LGBT community under the guise of some propaganda law that’s just ridiculous.’
The country’s controversial anti-propaganda law was passed earlier this year and makes it illegal for anyone to publicly support homosexuality.
‘There really is no reason to demonize the LGBT population,’ says Thomas. ‘In this atmosphere here we’re seeing the problem with homophobia being condoned and these laws actually allowing people to be victimized.’
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