Comparison with Saudi Arabia
Hamilton hands out before Formula 1 race against Florida
05/05/2023 11:29 am
In the US state of Florida, it is no longer allowed to talk about gender identities in schools. Formula 1 record world champion Lewis Hamilton sharply criticizes this law of the Republicans before the guest appearance of the motorsport premier class in Miami. He pledges his support to the LGBTQI community.
Florida is like Saudi Arabia. Lewis Hamilton dares to make this comparison. The Formula 1 record world champion caused a stir immediately before the Grand Prix in Miami with his criticism of the legal situation in the US state. The Briton is concerned with the rights and freedoms of the LGBTQ community, which the local government is currently massively restricting.
Hamilton finds the measures “not good at all”. “It’s no different than back then in Saudi Arabia,” said the Mercedes driver. “It’s not the right direction and it’s not the right message.” In Florida, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation in late March banning public school teachers from speaking to their classes about sexual orientation or gender identities. The paper is colloquially called the Don’t Say Gay Act. It applies from kindergarten through senior year of high school.
In addition, just before the race weekend, the law was approved that prohibits doctors from providing medical care to underage transgender people in connection with gender reassignment surgery. Access to treatments for adults is also to be restricted. It has yet to be signed by DeSantis, which is considered a sure thing.
Hamilton wants to appear with a rainbow helmet
Hamilton has a history of campaigning for the rights of minorities, including the LGBTQ community. The 38-year-old is the only black driver in Formula 1. “I stand behind the community here and I hope that they will continue to stand up and oppose it,” he said in Miami. He announced that he would wear his rainbow-colored helmet while racing. He presented this for the first time in Qatar and Saudi Arabia at the end of 2021 to draw attention to the discrimination in the community there.
“I want to continue to support the community here and let them know that I’m with them and I hope they continue to fight against it,” he said. LGBTQI+ is the English abbreviation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, brings together all gender identities and sexual orientations. The rainbow flag symbolizes tolerance, diversity and pride.
Despite his protest, Hamilton wants the race weekend to culminate on Sunday (9.30 p.m./Sky and in the ntv.de live ticker) don’t boycott. “It’s not the people of Miami making these decisions, it’s the people of government and that’s the problem,” he added. “I think all I can do – the sport will be here whether I’m here or not – is continue to support and just be here and have that on my helmet, which I hope is good on the subject fits.”
Hamilton speaks out despite the FIA ban
The seven-time world champion got involved in the debate about the fundamental decision on abortion rights before the race in Miami last year. The Supreme Court overturned the country’s legal abortion law in 2022. At the time, Hamilton said he “loves being in the United States.” “But I can’t ignore what’s going on right now and what some in government are trying to do to the women who live here,” he said. “Everyone should have the right to choose what to do with their body. We cannot allow that choice to be taken away from us.” He also indirectly made his political stance clear by welcoming the former First Lady, Michelle Obama, to his box for training and qualifying.
Since this season, Formula 1 drivers have been subject to a stricter ban on political statements imposed by the world motorsport association, the FIA. “Political, religious and personal statements or comments” constitute a breach of the rules on official occasions on the track. The governing body justified its tougher line with the general principle of neutrality to which the FIA is subject as a member of the Olympic family. Answering direct questions from journalists and expressing opinions on social networks are now allowed. Hamilton had sharply criticized this and said he did not want to stick to it. The race stewards will decide on possible sanctions in the event of violations of the rule on expression of opinion. The catalog of penalties ranges from a warning to a fine, the obligation to do social work, penalty laps and exclusion from the race.