After months of ducking the issue, Coca-Cola finally got back to us – and they refused to speak out against Russia's anti-gay laws.

Coca-Cola's statement completely ignored people facing discrimination and abuse in Russia. Instead, they tried to rely on their history of supporting equality in countries like the US. That's not enough – you can't support lesbian, gay, bi and trans people when it's convenient and stay silent when they need you the most.

In the time it took for Coca-Cola to issue their weak statement, the violence in Russia escalated. Anti-gay thugs broke into a meeting of organizers, beat people with baseball bats, and even shot one man in the eye. Over the weekend, another group of equally fired guns at a gay club in Moscow.

There are often challenging moments in a big campaign like this one, and our pressure doesn't always work the first time around. But we're going to come back bigger and stronger in the run up to the Winter Olympics in Sochi.

We're working on a massive creative campaign targeting Coca-Cola in major markets around the world – and we need your help!

If you have a creative talent – ​​video production, photography, graphic design, illustration – and want to help create an incredible advert, poster, image or video, please click this link and fill in your information so we can contact you:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VZQ6KZP?c=20656859

Thanks for going All Out

sources:

Coca-Cola's response
http://www.hrw.org/node/120417

Russia: Man shot in eye during attack on LGBT activists in St Petersburg – PinkNews, November 4, 2013
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/11/04/russia-man-shot-in-eye-during-attack-on-lgbt-activists-in-st-petersburg/

Shooting At Moscow Gay Club Central Station Rattles Russia's LGBT Community – Huffington Post, November 18, 2013
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/18/russia-gay-club-shooting_n_4296064.html

Coca cola drops the ball on gay rights at Sochi, 29 October 2013
http://www.nasdaq.com/article/cocacola-drops-the-ball-on-gay-rights-at-sochi-cm293403#ixzz2jCCcDKNT

As Inclusive as Our Brands: Coke Again Earns Perfect Rating in HRC's Corporate Equality Index – Coca-Cola website
http://www.coca-colacompany.com/press-center/company-articles/as-inclusive-as-our-brands-coke-again-earns-perfect-rating-in-hrcs-corporate-equality-index