Russian flag banned at Australian Open after Ukrainian ambassador strongly condemned display amid ongoing war

Tennis Australia has banned Russian and Belarusian flags at the Australian Open effective immediately following outcry from the Ukrainian ambassador.

Australian Open officials have banned the Russian flags from the Grand Slam after public outcry over the display of the ensign on the first day of the tournament.

Tennis Australia announced the ban on Tuesday morning after the flag was seen on the side line of a match between Ukraine's Kateryna Baindl and Russia's Kamilla Stanislavovna on Monday.

Only two days prior to the match, Russian missile strikes at an apartment block in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro killed 30 people – one of which was 15-year-old Maria Lebid.

Tennis Australia told SkyNews.com.au the Russian flag, as well as the Belarusian flag, would be banned from the event effective immediately following Monday's display.

“Our initial policy was that fans could bring them in but could not use them to cause disruption. Yesterday we had an incident where a flag was placed courtside,” the spokesperson said.

“Flags from Russia and Belarus are banned onsite at the Australian Open.

“We will continue to work with the players and our fans to ensure the best possible environment to enjoy the tennis.”

Russian and Belarusian tennis players still compete under a neutral flag policy.

Ambassador of Ukraine to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko strongly condemned the display of the Russian flag in a Twitter post on Monday and called on Tennis Australia to immediately enforce its neutral flag policy.

Following the ban, Mr Myroshnychenko said he welcomed and supported Tennis Australia’s decision.

“It is important that the security will be able to enforce it,” he told SkyNews .com.au.

Earlier this month, the ambassador urged the Australian Open to follow Wimbledon and the FIFA World Cup’s lead in banning Russian players from competing.

https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/sport/russian-flag-banned-at-australian-open-after-ukrainian-ambassador-strongly-condemned-display-amid-ongoing-war/news-story/904ea6d0d767a1d305f68108d45fa68a

LGBT Organization to Give Gift Cards to Kids Who Attend ‘Advocacy Workshop’

A pro-LGBT organization in Oregon will provide gift cards to 8th through 12th grade students who attend an LGBT advocacy training workshop.

Southern Oregon Coast Pride advertised their upcoming Curry County Youth Leadership and Advocacy Workshop in a Facebook post. “The workshop is open to all youth in Curry County who are in 8th-12th grade,” the post explained.

The training, which is set to take place at a public library later this month, will feature “conversations about what leadership and advocacy mean” as well as “what cultural humility is” before then discussing bullying.

The post reads, “Participants will receive gift cards for attending!” It also notes that “throughout the day there will be many opportunities for youth to define terms for themselves and explore ways in which we can advocate and be allies to each other.”

https://www.breitbart.com/social-justice/2023/01/16/lgbt-organization-give-gift-cards-kids-who-attend-advocacy-workshop/