Chicago Gay Bar Ends Stoli Boycott After Donation To Russian LGBT Group

From the Facebook page of Chicago's popular Sidetrack bar:

Stoli will again be available at Sidetrack. As Russia prepares to launch these Olympic games, TODAY Stoli has allied itself on the side of LGBT Freedom and will once again be on the shelves at Sidetrack. Stoli has pledged $150,000 as their first donation to the Russia Freedom Fund (the same fund Sidetrack & gay bars across America are supporting in tomorrow's Uprising of Love event). This, combined with Stoli's $300,000 donation to support the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Leadership LAB program have demonstrated to us that we have an ally in Stoli.

Stoli Donates $300K To LA LGBT Center

"The responses to the attacks on LGBT rights in Russia show that our lives are global and interconnected. Some responded to the attacks on LGBT rights in Russia by boycotting Stoli. It’s worth clarifying that SPI Group, which is in no way affiliated with the Russian government, has been the owner of the Stolichnaya brand outside of Russia since 1997. The Stolichnaya made in Russia for the local market is owned by a state-controlled entity. We feel it is important to raise our voice again and let the LGBT community know we share the same desire for justice and equality. And we are invested in achieving a brighter tomorrow for all. We are proud to be working with the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center to make our joint vision possible through the Leadership LAB, which empowers LGBT people to defeat prejudice locally, while developing leaders in LGBT communities in the U.S. and around the world. - SPI Group president John Esposito, in an Advocate op-ed announcing a $300,000 donation to the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center.

Press Release Of The Day

Just in from Gay Cities / Queerty:

In lieu of the national Stoli boycott by some in the LGBT community, GayCities has convinced SPI (Stoli's parent company) to donate $5 for each person whom RSVP's and attends The Most Original Stoli Guy Live in San Francisco, San Diego, Dallas and D.C. The participating charities include local chapters of Equality CA, Equality Texas and the HRC, all whom will be present at the events to accept the donation. GayCities is currently in discussions with SPI to select an international beneficiary that works directly in affecting change for LGBTs in Russia. The organization will be revealed live at The Most Original Stoli Guy finale, which GayCities will stream live from NYC this September.

RELATED: Two weeks ago members of ACT UP disrupted a Stoli Guy promotion at NYC's now-closed Splash Bar in Chelsea.

UPDATE: Equality California denies participating in this promotion and says they never even responded to the publicist who sent the above press release. I'm waiting on a response from the Human Rights Campaign.

UPDATE II: "The Human Rights Campaign is not participating in The Most Original Stoli Guy events and is not accepting any donations related to these events or otherwise from Stoli. The press release indicating our participation was flat out wrong and the event organizers have unfortunately not provided any information to substantiate their claim."

UPDATE III: From the comments of this post: "Equality Texas does not have any relationship with Stoli Vodka or GayCities. We do not have local chapters, and we have no involvement in the Dallas event planned for August 17th. Equality Texas would not accept donations from Stoli."

NYC Straight Bars Dump Russian Vodka

As I mentioned yesterday, a 200-member NYC restaurant and nightclub group has joined the boycott of Russian vodka.  Here's more on their protest in Manhattan.

Holding up a bottle of the popular Russian brand Stolichnaya, the United Restaurant and Tavern Owners Association President Paul Hurley shook his head and called for a city-wide boycott of Russian spirits and liquor. "All these vodkas here, we're going to throw them out," Hurley said. "We feel enough is enough." Hurley, who urged people to drink American-made alcohol instead, said the boycott was the first step toward pressuring Russia to change its policies toward gay people. Paddy MacCarty, who owns a Manhattan bar called Nevada Smiths, said he's planning to toss out every bottle of Russian vodka behind the bar. At least 200 New York bars and restaurants are participating in the boycott, which has spread to many gay bars across North America in the wake of a newly passed Russian law that bans the so-called "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations."

NYC Restaurant And Nightclub Trade Association To Hold Symbolic Vodka Dump

A New York City restaurant and nightclub trade association will today hold a symbolic vodka dump in protest of Russia's ban on "homosexual propaganda."

The protest is organized by the United Restaurant and Tavern Owners Association, which represents 3,000 hotels, nightclubs, bars and restaurants. The umbrella group is calling for a citywide ban on all Russian booze and foods. Last month, President Vladimir Putin signed a law banning “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations around minors.” The new measure bans the public discussion of gay rights and relationships anywhere children might hear it.

(Tipped by JMG reader Win)

Signorile Interviews Stoli CEO

Yesterday Michelangelo Signorile interviewed Stoli CEO Val Mendeleev on his new Sirius XM show. Audio of the full interview is at the bottom of this post.

In response to the boycott, Mendeleev said the company is in the beginning phase of seeking a group to which it could donate money to help fight the anti-gay government repression in Russia, and would be making an announcement in coming days.

“We are right now contemplating the best way to [use our influence],” he said. “I’ve been giving interviews, some of them in Russia, emphasizing our position, that we are upset by the lack of tolerance in Russia and the law limiting rights. But at the same time, we’re now analyzing the best way to influence this in Russia. Probably we will identify a global or local charity that knows better than us how to tackle the issue and influence the issue in Russia. And we’ll support it financially.”

Mendeleev at first appeared to be unaware of his own company’s policies on LGBT employees. After being informed by a p.r. executive who was present, he said that the new U.S. office that SPI Group opened has an anti-discrimination policy and offers domestic partnership benefits. He at first said such policies weren’t necessary in Luxembourg. After continued discussed he said he would look into the situation in Luxembourg and in Russia and elsewhere.

“Stoli has been a friend of the LGBT community and has been an opponent of the Russian government,” Mendeleev said. “Stoli was singled out by the community with which we associated in a way that we don’t believe was appropriate. If you look at our relationship with the Russian government, we’ve been boycotted by the Russian government for the past 10 years. We’ve been threatened, raided. And now we are being boycotted by the LGBT community.”

At NYC's Russian Consulate Protest

At this writing about 100 activists are demonstrating outside the Russian consulate on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Scott Wooledge is posting photos to the Facebook page for Memeograph.  The bottles of vodka were donated by the Hell's Kitchen location of the gay sports bar, Boxers.

UPDATE: ACT UP is also tweeting photos. The caption on the photo below reads: "@NYPD telling @RUSALGBT to take their banner down from Russian consulate."

Russia State News Notes Stoli Boycott

From the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti:

As boycotts of Russian vodka spread across the globe in protest over new Russian laws on homosexuality, US gay rights activists warn the campaign could be the first stage in a broader drive targeting Russia’s economy and image with the Sochi Winter Olympics six months away. “I don’t think the Russian vodka industry is going to be hurt, but it brings the attention,” journalist and author Michelangelo Signorile, a prominent US gay rights activist, told RIA Novosti on Tuesday. “… Then we’ll see the focus go to American companies and investment in Russia. That is where there can be a very effective strategy.” Amid a stream of images and reports highlighting an official crackdown and vigilante violence against gays in Russia, US activists last week called for a boycott of Russian vodka, a campaign that has centered on Stolichnaya, an iconic Russian brand of the traditional sprit. The movement has morphed into a global groundswell, with gay bars in several US cities being joined by establishments in Canada, Britain and Australia in yanking Russian vodka from their shelves.

The story goes on to note that there is considerable disagreement among LGBT activists about the usefulness of any boycott.  As I noted that last time I quoted RIA Novosti, their story is remarkably even-handed.

NOTE: At the top of the above-linked item is this warning: "This article contains information not suitable for readers younger than 18 years of age, according to Russian legislation."

ACT UP Disrupts Stoli Promo At NYC Bar

Last night members of ACT UP disrupted a Stoli promotion at the popular Splash Bar in Chelsea.  Paul Schindler reports at Gay City News:

It certainly didn’t have the makings of a fair fight, as a group of less than a dozen members of ACT UP/ NY faced off against a crowd of roughly 150 who had been primed with free rounds of Stolichnaya Vodka. But when the activists disrupted the opening of the Most Original Stoli Guy New York competition at Splash bar in Chelsea on July 30 with signs that read, “Russia Kills Gays” and “Dump Stoli,” the crowd watched in bewildered silence. Only the event’s drag queen hostess took up the cause of the evening’s liquor sponsor. “This is what happens when you drink Absolut,” she said, warning the crowd to stick with the Russian import. As Splash security personnel rushed the demonstrators, ripping up their signs and shoving them away from the stage, she added, “Look at those assholes being taken out of the bar.” Then with noticeably more anger in her voice, she continued, “This is America, not Russia.”

[Photo credit: Yoon Seo Nam]

RELATED: Splash Bar announced last week that it will close on August 10th after 22 years in business.

UPDATE: Here's a murky video of the protest.

TODAY: Stoli CEO On Signorile's Show

If you can't listen live, I'll try to get an audio clip later.

Gay Patriot: Leftists Are Bullying Stoli

"Stoli has donated to a number of gay and lesbian organizations, including some like GLAAD and HRC, on the left of the political spectrum. Let us stand up to those who would bully a corporation merely because of the Russian origin of its product. On my way home from the Meatless Mondays Steak Dinner last night, I stopped by my local Trader Joe’s and bought a bottle of Stoli. Join me in supporting a gay-friendly company wrongly targeted by gay activists on the far, far left." - Bruce Carroll, writing for Gay Patriot.

NYC Bars Join Stoli Boycott

From the Facebook page of the NYC Eagle:

Beginning immediately, the Eagle NYC will discontinue the sale of STOLI and any alcoholic product produced in Russia in protest of Russia's anti-gay bill banning the "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations". This archaic bill effectively strips every LGBTQ member in Russia of basic human rights and puts gays in danger of being harmed or even killed because of the anti-gay fervor created by the bill. The bill even applies to tourists. The Russian government is pandering to its constituents basest characteristics in an attempt to elevate it's own image. The Eagle NYC denounces the bill and will continue to support gay rights at home and abroad.

Other NYC venues reportedly joining the boycott: Industry, Elmo, Barracuda. (All three have the same owner.)

Quote Of The Day - Scott Shackford

"What’s sad about this effort is that if Russia succeeds in getting its hands back on Stoli, then a boycott actually makes sense. But the consequence will be that a powerful businessman who does support the gay community will lose his company. Boycotting Stoli now is a very bad idea. [Stoli owner Yuri] Scheffler is an ally who the gay and lesbian community needs to work with, not alienate. From a Western perspective it may be hard to realize that an incredibly rich person like Scheffler has the potential to be a victim of Russia’s authoritarian regime like its gay citizens or members of Pussy Riot, but it’s extremely important not to look at the nature of power and influence there the way we do here." - Scott Shackford, writing for Reason.  The entire essay is worth your time.

Stoli Vs JMG Reader Str8Grandmother

Stoli Updates Its Facebook Page

Comments are open there.

British Gay Clubs Dump Stoli

Pink News reports:

G-A-Y group has become the latest to vow to boycott Russian vodkas in solidarity with LGBT people living in Russia, where gay “propaganda”, and the adoption of children by foreign gay couples were recently made illegal. G-A-Y which owns the brand, its bars, and Heaven nightclub, will not be serving Russian vodka from now on, confirmed its founder and owner.

RELATED: In addition to Chicago's famed Sidetrack, yesterday the San Francisco clubs Moby Dick and Hi Tops both joined the Stoli boycott. I've not yet heard reports from any NYC clubs.

UPDATE: Vancouver's Fountainhead and Celebrities have joined in.

UPDATE II: Add San Diego's Pecs to the list.

Queer Nation Responds To Stoli CEO

Via press release:

A Statement From Queer Nation; Marketing Is Not Enough

Val Mendeleev, the chief executive officer of SPI Group, the owner of the Stolichnaya brand, confirmed in an open letter on July 25 that SPI produces this vodka in Russia and that SPI has offices and operations in Russia. Stolichnaya is a Russian vodka that is owned by a company that was founded in Russia in 1991.

On the same day that SPI released its open letter to the Advocate, we learned that Russian thugs, emboldened by Russia’s anti-gay law, have taken to gay web sites to lure gay people to supposed encounters where they are viciously beaten. This is just the latest in a series of violent attacks against LGBT Russians and foreign LGBT nationals in Russia.

This violence follows news reports of Russian police and prosecutors targeting LGBT people and groups in Russia for arrests and trials. At least two Russian LGBT groups have gone underground as a result.

In the open letter, Mr. Mendeleev cited a few LGBT events where SPI promoted its Stolichnaya brand as evidence of the company’s support for our community. Mr. Mendeleev, marketing will not save LGBT lives.

A single open letter that was discreetly placed with a single gay publication in the US will not help LGBT Russians nor will it have an impact on the Russian government’s anti-gay campaign. This and your refusal made in an earlier statement to confront the Russian government’s anti-gay bigotry make clear that you are not the fervent supporter and friend to the LGBT community you claim to be.

By its own admission, SPI Group operates in Russia and pays taxes to the Russian government. That money funds these continuing attacks on LGBT people and organizations in Russia. Queer Nation will continue its boycott of Stolichnaya and other Russian vodkas until this anti-gay law is repealed and the Russian government guarantees the safety of its LGBT citizens and foreign LGBT nationals in Russia.

We will not help you fund the Russian war on LGBT people.

Queer Nation

Reactions, please.

Stoli CEO Issues Open Letter To Gays

The CEO of Stolichnaya Vodka has written an open letter to the LGBT community in order to stave off the nascent boycott campaign. The letter opens:

The recent dreadful actions taken by the Russian Government limiting the rights of the LGBT community and the passionate reaction of the community have prompted me to write this letter to you. I want to stress that Stoli firmly opposes such attitude and actions. Indeed, as a company that encourages transparency and fairness, we are upset and angry. Stolichnaya Vodka has always been, and continues to be a fervent supporter and friend to the LGBT community. We also thank the community for having adopted Stoli as their vodka of preference.

In the US, the brand’s commitment to the LGBT community has been ongoing for years. Among the best examples, I can cite the series produced by Stoli in 2006 called “Be Real: Stories from Queer America” which featured short documentaries on real life stories depicting the challenges and accomplishments of the LGBT community in the United States Stoli is very proud of its current exclusive national partnership with Gaycities.com and Queerty.com in search of the Most Original Stoli Guy. This is a fantastic program that started as a local initiative in Colorado and became a national platform. Previous national initiatives included serving as the official vodka of the Miami Gay Pride Week as well as ongoing events with focus on Pride month.

Click on the image in this post and read the message in full. Then give us your reaction.