By Melanie Nathan, January 30, 2014
Today, three Florida mayors whose cities have Sister or Friendship City relationships with cities in Russia co-signed a letter to Russian President Vladmir Putin criticizing the anti-gay laws and violence in the country that will host the Winter Olympics at Sochi.
Tallahassee Mayor John Marks, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman urged the Russian government to repeal the nation’s controversial “anti-gay” law.
The letter states, in part:
“As mayors of Florida cities with Russian sister city counterparts, we are writing to address a matter of great importance that affects the lives of millions of Americans and Russians alike. In June 2013 you signed into law a measure that enforces a ban upon homosexual ‘propaganda’ in Russia. Thus, it appears that citizens and visitors to Russian that identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgendered (LGBT) will be subject to discrimination, fines, and potential incarceration. This law represents a disconcerting violation of basic human and civil rights and does not reflect the ideals or beliefs of our citizens, nor do we believe that it reflects the values of the citizens of our Russian sister city counterparts.”
Equality Florida, the organization which wrote letters to all Florida cities that have partnerships with Russian cities, calling on elected leaders to speak up in the face of Russia’s persecution and violence against the LGBT community, has praised this important step taken by the Florida mayors:
“Last year Equality Florida We are pleased to see strong mayors in our state speak out and hope it will inspire others across the country to take action as well.”
Last year, Seattle’s previous Mayor also took strong steps to voice the City disapproval of the Putin regime’s homophobic laws.
The Winter Olympic games in Sochi are scheduled to begin next week.
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Reblog!!
Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
“Tallahassee Mayor John Marks, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman urged the Russian government to repeal the nation’s controversial “anti-gay” law.” …. Wow!! Impressed … from Florida!!??
This oughta do it. #RUSSIAN Sister City Mayors of #Tallahassee #Orlando and #StPetersburg #FL urge #PUTIN to grow up.
THANKS
I think Putin is terrified of his own thoughts!