This week I talked with LGBTQ ally Aron Solomon, chief legal analyst at Esquire Digital to give us his spin about WNBA star Brittney Griner’s detainment in Russia. A short summary of this unfortunate situation is that Brittney Griner was arrested on February 17th 2022 in Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport upon arrival during her seventh season playing professional basketball in Russia during the WNBA’s off-season. Griner was arrested for allegedly possessing cartridges containing 'liquid with hashish oil' according to the customs service. She currently faces charges that could carry a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. Since her arrest Griner's legal team has had access to her & been able to see her several times a week. Last Thursday it was announced that she would be held without trial until at least May 19th & then finally after over a month of detainment an official from the US embassy in Moscow was granted consular access to check on her condition. What they reported is that she is being held with two other first time detainees & in good condition. Of course we all fear that Griner is being used as a political pawn especially with Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine & that this case did not get the attention it deserved because Brittney is a Black LGBTQ athlete. If this happened to a high profile male professional basketball player like Kyrie Irving or Stephen Curry it would be an entirely different situation. It is also extremely concerning with Russia’s notorious treatment of our LGBTQ community when Brittney will be safely returned to the United States & her wife Cherelle. I talked to Aron about how this case has been handled up to now & where it may go from here. LISTEN:
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