BBC Democracy Live - Send gay sports stars to Sochi, government urged The UK should follow in the footsteps of the US and send a delegation of gay sports stars and broadcasters to the Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia, a Labour MP has said, amid growing concerns over the introduction of legislation outlawing the promotion of homosexuality. Openly gay MP Chris Bryant said it would send a message "that those who know in this country what it is to enjoy the freedom to live your life as you want have something to offer the rest of the world in Russia as well." He was addressing Culture Secretary Maria Miller, who will be attending the Games on behalf of the government, during the morning question session on 30 January 2014. Mr Bryant said that while the minister's visit was "charming," the delegation could benefit from the likes of retired basketball player and broadcaster John Amaechi, Olympic boxer Nicola Adams, Olympic swimmer Tom Daley, retired Welsh rugby player Gareth Thomas and broadcaster Clare Balding. Mrs Miller, who oversaw the legislating introducing gay marriage in England and Wales, said it was very important for Team GB to see that the British government is behind them "every step of the way." But she added: "I will make no apologies for the fact the minister for sport and I are going, and I hope he will join me in saying to the team that they should have our very best wishes indeed." The US is sending two openly gay sports stars as part of its official delegation to the Olympics, which is being seen as a challenge to new laws in Russia which ban "propaganda" about homosexuality. Conservative former minister Simon Burns asked what ministers were doing ahead of the Games to support the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Responding, Mrs Miller said she shared his concerns about the protection of human rights for the country's LGBT community. She told MPs she had "raised it personally" with ministers and non-governmental organisations on the ground, and detailed the government's support for protest group Stonewall which she said will be providing support for LGBT people in Russia.