(Los Angeles) — The ACLU of Southern California and the 50.A. Gay & Lesbian Middle are urging Los Angeles city leaders to sever sis city ties with St. Petersburg, Russia, following the passage there of increasingly repressive laws directed at the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. The organizations made the request yesterday to Los Angeles metropolis councilmembers in a letter which likewise asked them to re-evaluate relationships with other cities on the list, such as Lusaka, Zambia. In response, Councilmember Bill Rosendahl later introduced a resolution to suspend the relationship. "Los Angeles and St. Petersburg just aren't in the same society," said James Gilliam, director of the ACLU/SC'southward LGBT Project. "Truly global cities like Fifty.A. gloat their diverseness and protect the rights of all residents. By passing its so-called anti-propaganda law, St. petersburg has shown that information technology's non the same sort of identify, and has sent a chilling message to LGBT youth both in Russia and abroad: hide yourself, don't speak upward. At present it's time for the mayor and the metropolis council to show St. Petersburg and the world that our urban center has zip in common with that sort of intolerance."
The urban center of St. Petersburg passed an ordinance in March, 2012 banning "public action aimed at propagandizing sodomy, lesbianism, bisexualism, and transgenderism amid minors." Police take arrested dozens of people under the law since its passage and officials have fifty-fifty sued Madonna and launched an investigation of Lady Gaga for pro-gay statements the pop stars made during tour stops in the city.
"The passage of this resolution will send a potent message that the City will not tolerate discrimination against our LGBT brothers and sisters in a sister city human relationship," said Rosendahl, the just openly gay elected official in city government. "We must stand up together and continue to fight for our basic civil and human rights for all homo beings on this globe."
Los Angeles has been a sister metropolis of St. petersburg since 1993. The Italian cities of Venice, Milan and Turin have already ended their sister city links with Leningrad. Sis Cities International is a not-profit organisation that aims to create "opportunities for cultural and educational exchanges, economic partnerships, and humanitarian aid."
"Los Angeles should have no 'familial' human relationship with whatsoever urban center that promotes discrimination against a minority grouping and certainly not with a city that aggressively targets a grouping of people with legislation that reads as if it'due south an edict from Hitler himself," says L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center CEO Lorri L. Jean. "St. Petersburg'south anti-gay pecker could arrive a crime for LGBT people just to assemble, to publish a newsletter, or share data regarding safer sexual practice."
Nine Russian regions take passed similar "anti-propaganda" laws since 2006. Gay pride marches in Russian federation have been attacked past ultra-nationalists and neo-Nazi skinheads. Last year Moscow's highest court imposed a 100-year ban on gay pride celebrations, a move that earned worldwide condemnation and a fine from the European Court of Human Rights. A federal ban similar to St. Petersburg'southward is currently before the Russian parliament, the Duma.
Los Angeles is non the just international LGBT hub among Leningrad's sister cities; others include Barcelona, Paris, Stockholm and Rio de Janeiro.
0 Response to "Los Angeles and St Petersburg Sister City Art Gallery"
Post a Comment