Tom Daley defiantly wears gay Pride badge in Russia while accepting silver medal
The British diver made a statement on the podium in Kazan over the weekend.
By Will Stroude
Tom Daley made a defiant display of gay pride Russia over the weekend after wearing a rainbow badge while accepting his silver medal at the Fina Diving World Series in Kazan.
The British diver, 23, used his podium appearace to champion LGBT equality after taking second in the mixed 3m synchro springboard with his partner Georgia Reid, 21, on Sunday (May 6).
Sticking two fingers to Russia’s anti-gay ‘propaganda’ laws prohibiting the ‘promotion’ of homosexality to minors, Daley sported a rainbow baddge bearing the word ‘Pride’ on his official tracksuit.
“Another silver here in Russia! Representing on the podium,” Daley wrote on Instagram as he shared a picture of himself after the ceremony.
The display came on the one-year anniversary of Tom’s wedding to Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black. The couple are expecting their first child, a baby boy, via surrogate later this year.
It’s the second time Daley has used his position as one of the world’s most high-profile out athletes to champion LGBT causes.
Last month, the former Attitude cover star celebrated his gold medal win at the Commonwealth Games in Australia’s Gold Coast to call for LGBT equality in the 37 Commonwealth countries which continue to criminalise homosexuality.