Stop the Anti-LGBT Law Russia!
Greetings to all!
We are members of the Alliance of Straights for LGBT Equality from Saint Petersburg, Russia. This Alliance was organized to oppose the various egregious laws affecting our community that are being proposed and are being enacted in St. Petersburg and in several cities all across Russia.
At the center of the storm is the law banning the so-called “Propaganda of Homosexuality” adopted by the Saint Petersburg City Council on March 7th, 2012. This law makes criminal any activity or sharing of information related to the LGBT community and same-sex relationships. It is an obvious violation of civil rights and is contrary to the commitments made by the Russian Federation as part of their ratification of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
Adoption of the law on March 7th, 2012 in Saint Petersburg provoked strong negative public response not only in Russia but also abroad. For example, Amnesty International appealed before March 7th to the Saint Petersburg Governor Georgiy Poltavchenko not to sign the law. The proposed law was also condemned by the European Parliament. A few days ago, Milan (Italy), a twin city of Saint Petersburg, suspended the collaboration in scope of the twinning with our city because of this repugnant law.
Incredibly, this worldwide reaction has not deterred the Russian Government. Effectively, the discrimination against the LGBT community was legalized in several other Russian cities and regions by adopting similar regional laws. On December 19th, 2012 the first reading of a federal law banning "Propaganda of Homosexuality" will take place in the State Duma of the Russian Federation!
We all know that the rights of LGBT community are basic human rights and when the rights of some citizens are violated, the rights of society as a whole are compromised. That is why heterosexuals and the LGBT community are united in their struggle for equality regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.
We believe that the public attention, especially from abroad, is necessary and can help stop the tide of legalization of homophobia in Russia. We urge you to express your position openly and clearly about the adoption of such laws in Russia in the form of open letters to Russian politicians, publications in media or demonstrations at the diplomatic missions of the Russian Federation.
Sincerely,
Anna Shuval-Sergeeva,
International Contact of the Alliance of Straights for LGBT Equality,
Natalia Tsymbalova,
Coordinator of the Alliance of Straights for LGBT Equality
