A lot of the coverage in the run up to the Winter Olympics in Sochi, which begins today, has focused on the state of Russian politics. In particular, the introduction of laws that prohibited the promotion of ‘non-traditional relations’. Homosexuality in other words.

The law hit headlines and protestations from President Vladimir Putin that he ‘has gay friends’ went unheeded. Many LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) groups and athletes have spoken out against the policy and even called for a boycott of the games.

Despite the clearly hostile and homophobic environment that the games are taking place in, both Sochi and Russia as a whole, several groups and individuals have made gestures or launched campaigns to express support with the Russian LGBT community. We’ve rounded up 10 of the best.