https://youtube.com/watch?v=YxXp73oLEtM
President Obama’s legacy as “the first gay president” could factor in to how the United States approaches sending a delegation to Russia for the upcoming Winter Olympics, according to MSNBC host Thomas Roberts. He described Russia’s laws regarding homosexuality as “one of the points of friction between our country and Russia right now,” among other diplomatic issues with Syria, Iran, Ukraine, and asylum for NSA leaker Edward Snowden.
“How do you think the president can balance all the delicate foreign-policy issues, but take a decisive stand on human rights, because so many people consider President Obama to be the first gay president?” Roberts asked the Human Rights First’s Shawn Gaylord.
Gaylord understood that the president had to handle other issues pertaining to Russia, but called the current situation regarding LGBT rights a “real crisis.” “Even though President Obama does have to balance competing concerns, I think the situation there is getting very frightening,” he said.