SOCHI SCENE: Rihanna weighs in

SOCHI, Russia – A campaign for gay rights in Russia and at the Sochi Games is getting some star backing from Rihanna.

A photo posted on Instagram and linked to Rihanna’s verified Twitter account showed the “We Found Love,” ”Diamonds” and “Umbrella” singer wearing a hat with the logo P6.

The Principle 6 campaign aims to challenge Russia’s crackdown on gay rights, including its law banning so-called gay “propaganda.” It takes its name from the sixth of seven “fundamental principles” listed in the International Olympic Committee’s charter.

The charter says: “Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement.”

Gay Australian Olympian Belle Brockhoff tweeted thanks to Rihanna before competing in snowboardcross on Sunday. Rihanna’s account has more than 34 million followers, giving the P6 campaign a big audience.

“OMG NO WAY!” said a tweet on Brockhoff’s verified account. “Whoah. Thank you @rihanna for standing up for #P6 and equality at the Olympics!”

See the photo here: http://instagram.com/p/kdMST7hMxQ/#

— By John Leicester — Twitter http://twitter.com/johnleicester

___

Associated Press reporters are filing dispatches about happenings in and around Sochi during the 2014 Winter Games. Follow AP journalists covering the Olympics on Twitter: http://apne.ws/1c3WMiu