Porn King Michael Lucas Gives Putin The Finger

<p>Prolific sex performer -- and surprisingly influential voice on gay rights -- slams Russian leader on eve of the Olympics as a 'digusting, bloody tyrant.'</p> <p>by Versha Sharma and Paul Ewen via Vocativ | 12th November 2013</p><p></p><p> </p><p><img src="http://www.thegayuk.com/communities/8/004/009/928/388/images/4601689384.png" width="460" height="271" alt="Michael Lucas" title="Michael Lucas"/></p> <p></p><p>There are only 86 days left until the kickoff of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, but Russia and President Vladimir Putin are facing a bit of an “optics” problem. They’ve been battling calls for boycotts all year long—from human rights activists outraged about corruption to gay rights activists outraged about discriminatory laws passed this summer. Just yesterday the International Olympic Committee had to put out fires started by local Russian news reports that Twitter and Instagram would be banned at the games (the IOC says they’re not).</p><p></p><p>The “anti-homosexual propaganda“ laws that went into effect in July criminalize the mere act of discussing gay people by fining or jailing anyone who mentions that they exist to Russians under age 18. Gay pride marches are banned. Police often break up protests violently. But in a discussion at Vocativ’s studios, openly gay Russia native Michael Lucas names the greatest threat to gays today in his country: an angry mob, mobilized and inspired by the Kremlin’s actions, that makes life hell for them.</p><p></p><p>Lucas is the founder and CEO of Lucas Entertainment, an international gay porn production company based in New York City. He not only produces pornographic films, he is a principal performer in many of them. Also an activist in his own right, Lucas has produced documentaries about gay men in Israel and plans to release one on Russia later this year. From his perch in New York, he has emerged as an influential voice on gay rights in Russia.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Take a look at Vocativ's interview with <a href="http://www.vocativ.com/video/michael-lucas-gives-vladimir-putin-finger/">Michael Lucas</a></p><p> </p>