Dan the Man <dan708@yahoo.com> wrote:

On Thursday, December 2, 2021 at 3:21:56 PM UTC-5, News wrote:

Lewis Hamilton condemns rCyterrifyingrCO LGBTQ+ laws before Saudi Arabian GP

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/dec/02/lewis-hamilton-condemns-terrifying-lgbtq-laws-before-saudi-arabian-gp


"Lewis Hamilton has said he is not comfortable competing in Saudi Arabia
given its repressive laws regarding the LGBTQ+ community. Speaking
before this weekendrCOs grand prix in Jeddah, Hamilton described the laws >> as rCLterrifyingrCY and once more called on Formula One to do more to
address human rights issues in the countries it visits.

On Wednesday a range of human rights groups wrote to F1, accusing the
sport of being complicit in Saudi ArabiarCOs sportswashing by competing in >> the country. They highlighted womenrCOs rights activists who risk
imprisonment for their actions, with Human Rights Watch citing rCLSaudi
ArabiarCOs brutal crackdown on peaceful dissidentsrCY. Amnesty International
called on drivers to speak out, drawing attention to the plight of Saudi
LGBTQ+ people who live in a country where same-sex relations are illegal
and punishable by flogging or imprisonment.

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F1 has attracted considerable criticism for racing in Saudi Arabia and
Hamilton, who has been a strident supporter of equality and diversity,
admitted he did not feel at ease with the regime.

rCLDo I feel comfortable here? I wouldnrCOt say I do,rCY he said. rCLBut itrCOs
not my choice to be here, the sport has taken the choice to be here.rCY

Hamilton goes into the meeting, the first to be held in Saudi Arabia, in
a tightly fought battle with Red BullrCOs Max Verstappen who leads the
championship by eight points with two rounds remaining. Yet much as the
world champion is focused on this nail-biting finish, Hamilton, as he
has been in the past, was also insistent that he would play a part in
trying to make a difference.

rCLWhilst we are here itrCOs important we do try to raise awareness,rCY he >> said. rCLIn the last race you saw the [rainbow] helmet that I wore. I will >> wear that again here and in the next race [in Abu Dhabi] because it is
an issue. If anyone wants to take time to read what the law is for the
LGBT+ community, it is pretty terrifying. There are changes that need to
be made.rCY

Lewis Hamilton wears a rainbow helmet while winning the Qatar Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton wears a rainbow helmet while winning the Qatar Grand
Prix. Photograph: Mario Renzi/Formula 1/Getty Images
HamiltonrCOs words will be hammer blows to the Saudi authorities who have >> invested heavily in attracting sporting events to the country and whose
sovereign wealth fund recently succeeded in a takeover bid for Newcastle
United. He is the sportrCOs biggest, most recognised global star and this >> is the first time he has spoken so bluntly about being uncomfortable to
be competing in a specific country because of its repressive regime.

At the last round in Qatar, where same-sex relationships are also
illegal, Hamilton wore a helmet with the rainbow and coloured chevrons
in support of the LGBTQ+ community and will do so again here. rCLThe sport >> and we are duty bound to make sure we try to raise awareness for certain
issues we have seen, particularly human rights in these countries that
we are going to,rCY he said.

The four-times world champion Sebastian Vettel will also be
demonstrating his support this weekend, wearing rainbow-adorned
trainers. He organised a karting session at the track on Thursday for
women and girl drivers to show solidarity with them, given they were
given the right to drive only in 2018.

The Williams team principal, Jost Capito, will not be in attendance at
the race after testing positive for Covid-19 before flying to Saudi
Arabia and will remain in the UK.

Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International UKrCOs CEO, welcomed HamiltonrCOs stance.

rCLItrCOs extremely encouraging to see Lewis Hamilton speaking out on
womenrCOs and LGBTI rights in Saudi Arabia like this,rCY he said. rCLItrCOs >> high-profile interventions like LewisrCOs that help undo some of the
sportwashing effects of Saudi-hosted events such as the Jeddah Grand Prix. >>
rCLComing after the purchase of Newcastle United, the hosting of big-money >> boxing bouts and numerous top-tier golf and tennis tournaments, the
Jeddah race is clearly Saudi ArabiarCOs latest bid to once again
sportswash its dismal human rights record.rCY

Oh fer cryin' out loud, Lewis! Nobody's asking you to live your life
there, just race for one weekend and get the heck out of there. SJW's are so insufferable!

Dan

Totally disagree. Saudi Arabia has an appallingly oppressive regime and,
whilst outside powers cannot tell the Saudis how to run their country they
can, and should, express their disapproval by all means possible.

IMO the SAGP should never have been held in the first place but, given that Liberty (ironic title) and the FIA have decided that it should go ahead the drivers have little alternative but to take part. Probably only Hamilton
has the status within the sport to be able to express opinions that I feel
sure other drivers share.

--
Sir Tim
--- SBBSecho 3.06-Win32
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