The gay boycott of Russia, and Russian products – especially vodka – has exploded in the past 24 hours. #dumpstoli

Gay bars in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, NYC, Miami, San Diego, Chicago, Columbus, Vancouver, Toronto, Great Britain and Australia are removing Russian vodka, particularly Stolichnaya, from their shelves and refusing to serve Russian liquor to their patrons, following Dan Savage’s and Harvey Fierstein’s calls to boycott all things Russian.

The calls for a boycott came after Russia enacted into law, with President Putin’s support, some of the most barbaric anti-gay and ant-trans legislation in history. They have literally made it illegal for anyone to be pro-gay in the country, including foreigners who are already being arrested.

And now popular UK actor, Russell Tovey, perhaps best known in America as the werewolf in the British production of “Being Human,” has endorsed the boycott:

I join in the boycott of Russian vodka #notorussianvodka #equality — russell tovey (@russelltovey) July 26, 2013

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Have you asked your local gay bar to join the boycott of Russian liquor? There’s a pretty comprehensive list below of the bars and cities that have joined in. Please ask your local gay (and gay-friendly) bars to join the boycott, and let me (us) know who has pulled, and who refuses. Here are some nice flyers that Matt, who works with Dan Savage, has created – you can hand these out at bars, etc., and use them when talking to the bar owners. Flyer 1, flyer 2.

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LGBT groups in Russia have called on the world to intervene to stop an “impending tragedy.” International news coverage of the gay boycott of Stolichnaya, and Russian liquor generally, is now taking off:

Canadian TV on the boycott by at least four bars in Vancouver.

Los Angeles Times: West Hollywood bars boycott vodka to protest Russian anti-gay laws

The Guardian: Russia faces vodka boycott in backlash against anti-gay law

KTVU in San Francisco.

SF Chronicle.

NBC Chicago.

In other disturbing news worthy of Neville Chamberlain, the International Olympic Committee is now reassuring prospective Olympic tourists, thinking of attending the Sochi Olympics next year in Russia, that gay Olympic0-goers are going to receive an exemption from Russia’s draconian anti-gay laws. And how exactly will the Russian skinheads, who are widely thought to be in cahoots with local authorities, know that the fag walked down the street is an IOC fag rather than a Russian fag, and therefore they shouldn’t bash his face in, like they’ve been doing regularly to gay and trans people nationwide?

Maybe the IOC can issue pink triangles for its athletes to sew on their uniforms, and the Jewish athletes can wear Stars of David too (you never can be too careful), to make sure the Russian government, and the neo-Nazis they’re in cahoots with, know which minorities in Sochi are fair game to beat the crap out of.

Profile in courage, the IOC is not.

Here are the bars we know of, so far, who have dropped Stoli and Russian liquor overall. Please check with your local gay (and gay-friendly) bars.

Los Angeles

– Eleven Bar & Grill

– Revolver Video Bar

– Mother Lode

San Francisco

– Moby Dick Bar

– Hi Tops Bar

New York City

– Avenue Saloon (unconfirmed)

– Hell’s Kitchen NYC (unconfirmed)

Miami

– Mova

Seattle

– Diesel bar

Chicago

– Sidetrack

– Elixir lounge

– Halsted’s Bar and Grill

– Hydrate Nightclub

– Replay

San Diego

– Pecs

Palm Springs

– Trio

– LuLu (which is a straight (so to speak) establishment).

Columbus, Ohio

– Union Cafe

– Axis

Vancouver, Canada

– Fountainhead pub

– Celebrities

– Cobalt

– Oasis

Toronto, Canada

– Wayla Bar

UK

– G-A-Y

Australia

– Laird Hotel (Melbourne)

– Gay Bar (Sydney)