Composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz has cancelled his VISA card over the failure of VISA to speak out against Russia’s Anti-LGBT laws ahead of the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Schwartz’ credits include the musicals Godspell, Pippin and Wicked. He has won the Drama Desk Award for outstanding lyrics, three Grammy Awards, three Academy Awards and has been nominated for six Tony Awards.
By Friday, February 7, the opening day of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, more than 3,500 VISA customers and members of the California-based CourageCampaign.org will join Stephen Schwartz, in dropping the credit card company over its refusal to speak out against Russia’s anti-LGBT laws.
VISA, a global sponsor of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia has remained silent on the issue making a mockery of the Olympic Games as an international celebration of diversity and community.
Stephen Schwartz, said: “As a major sponsor of the 2014 Sochi Olympics and self-proclaimed supporter of human rights, VISA has a responsibility to speak out against Russia’s persecution of millions of its own LGBT citizens.”
“Remaining silent about atrocities against humanity is to be complicit in them. I expect more from a global business leader like VISA.”
“That’s why I’ve decided to put my money where my mouth (and heart) is by closing all of my accounts with VISA and switching to another credit card company. In my case, I switched to MasterCard. It was easy and fast, and I made sure VISA knew why I was doing it.”
Schwartz originally sent an email to his friends and family urging them to drop VISA, but following his collaboration with CourageCampaign.org, his message has gone to a much wider audience.
To view the campaign, CLICK HERE:
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