Anti-Gay Russian Laws Spark Boycotts And Severed Ties In Los Angeles

Backlash against harsh anti-gay laws in Russia has sparked an international boycott movement against Russian vodka. Owners of gay bars and clubs in West Hollywood, an enclave with gay and Russian communities, gathered this morning symbolically to dump Stoli vodka into the gutters. Protesters say they are sending a message to the Russian government and Vladimir Putin, to take a stand against the new anti-gay laws and increasingly violent attacks on gay people. But, some gay rights activists say the vodka brand is the wrong target. KPFK’s Larry Buhl was at the dumping ceremony in West Hollywood, and files this report.