To think Clare Balding is just doing her job?

[louloutheshamed]

Twitter trolls are
Accusing wor Clare of selling out by covering the winter Olympics despite Russia's poor record on gay rights.

Aibu to think she is perfectly entitled to do her job, especially as she does it so brilliantly?

I am interpreting it as the BBC sticking two fingers up to that sort of homophobic shite.

I may be optimistic, but hey ho.

I agree with you Op.

Yes, why shouldn't she? Have you seen the Channel 4 advert? Did you see them all wearing rainbows in the opening ceremony (check out the German outfits)!

Yanbu. You could look at it that staying home and not doing it would be giving in to them and their homophobic laws.

I see their point but it's much better that we have LGBT people in prominent positions than hide them away IMO.

I think she is incredably brave,good for her.

I can't remember exactly what she said but she spoke quite eloquently about it on last weeks Last Leg.

Good for her. She's an openly gay woman not being intimidated by those disgusting laws.
Should she just stay at home and hide?
A lot braver for her to go IMO.

I think she can make more impact going there, doing a great job, and sticking two fingers up to them, than staying home in protest.. the Russians aren't going to notice if she's not there but they MAY notice that an openly gay presenter from the prestigious and world famous BBC is there.

She's ace.

She was on The One Show and explained that it would be of no consequence to Russia if she didn't go.

But, it will be a poke in the eye to Russia for one of the BBC's main presenters to be out and be seen to be the face of the BBC coverage.

I agree with her. Putin wouldn't give a shit if she was sat at home drinking wine in her pyjamas. What good would that do?

yanbu.

What she is DOING is EXACTLY what makes the Russian stance so pathetic. Getting on with HER JOB regardless of other people's prejudice, because their prejudice is simply NOT RELEVANT.

I think it's a good thing - sorry for shouting. Trying to emphasise rather than silence everyone else

I thought she sold out when she hopped on a train to Paris to interview Mike Tyson and help him promote his book and tour. He was barred from entering the UK because of his rape conviction. That's why CB had to travel to him - with much fanfare and excitement about it on twitter.

She is doing an excellent job as always and is flipping Putin the bird whilst she does it.

Her take on it was

"They dont want me there because of who I am, so that is it I am going!"

Good for her. I luffs her

I luffs Claire, she is great at what she does. As stiffstink says, no one in Russia would care if she stayed at home: she makes more of a statement in going and carrying on with her job.

She doesn't have to be doing it as a protest though or flipping anyone anything.

It's a non issue. If it were me I wouldn't give a fucking stuff about policies and offence and other people's ideas about my sexuality in general.

I bloody love her anyway though

She is doing an amazing job as always, and maybe the Olympics with all its diversity will be the 'wake-up' call Russia needs

In this country, it's a non-issue. But it isn't in Russia at the moment.

What cosy said. I think the fact that she's the face of the Beeb has HUGE clout internationally.

But to answer the OP - I think she's doing the right thing by being an out lesbian at the winter games.

She is doing her job and if she hadn't have gone she would have been giving in to homophobic fuckwits.

There is nothing wrong with being gay and everyone needs to get that if they haven't already.

I don't see why she by virtue of being gay should be singled out. Surely it is beholden on us all to tackle homophobia.

Sorry, I don't mean it's a non issue for everyone else. Just that if it were me in her position, it would be a non issue. I'd just want to get on with it iyswim.

And what Compos said.

(nice to see you!)

I reckon the bbc commentary team should all wear rainbow colours on their shirts.