A group of 9 elected LGBT officials from New York City have written a letter to the President. The letter basically challenges the President to 'put up or shut up' or 'put your money where your mouth is' when it comes to LGBT Civil Rights, Petit Czar Putin and his government sanctioned pogroms against the Gays. The President is debating whether to travel to Russia to meet with Putin in light of the Snowden asylum issue and these NYC officials are telling him to 'consider the country's horrendous treatment of members of the LGBT community and its clear human rights abuses' while considering what course of action to take. I agree with these officials 100%, and so should you. The text of the letter is below:
Hon. Barack H. Obama
President of the United States of America
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Obama:
President of the United States of America
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Obama:
We write as lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender (LGBT) elected officials from New York City in anticipation
of your deciding whether to continue or cancel plans for an upcoming
diplomatic trip to Russia to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
While you are considering whether to cancel that trip in light of
Russia's decision to give asylum to Edward Snowden, we also urge you to
consider the country's horrendous treatment of members of the LGBT
community and its clear human rights abuses aimed at our community.
Russia has become a country that persecutes anyone who might be LGBT or
supports gay rights.
As then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on behalf of your administration, “Gay rights are human rights, and human rights are gay rights. It should never be a crime to be gay.” Given that President Putin and Russia have enacted laws
to criminalize gay people and supporters and deny human rights to their LGBT citizens, they should not be the beneficiary of any trip by your office until they fully restore all civil rights to LGBT people in their country. Recent actions taken by the Russian government have led LGBT citizens to face not only a society that is intolerant of their basic civil rights, but also a country that would imprison them for declaring support for their own fundamental rights as humans. This has promoted an atmosphere of hate where gay people fear for their own lives and safety. Police are allowed to arrest foreigners who are considered gay or pro-gay and detain them for up to 14 days. Under their new law, as a pro-gay supporter even you could be subject to arrest and imprisonment while in Russia.
Mr. President, you will remember that in December 2011 the White House released a presidential memorandum directing executive officers and agencies that deal in foreign affairs to address human rights abuses against LGBT people abroad and to pressure foreign governments to decriminalize homosexuality. Now it is time for you and your administration to directly act on this memorandum. The LGBT community and its allies in Russia are under attack and the victims of
clear human rights abuses. We urge you to stand in solidarity with us. Refuse any diplomatic mission to Russia until President Putin stops these abuses now and agrees to make Russia a country that proudly supports its LGBT community and its allies worldwide.
As then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on behalf of your administration, “Gay rights are human rights, and human rights are gay rights. It should never be a crime to be gay.” Given that President Putin and Russia have enacted laws
to criminalize gay people and supporters and deny human rights to their LGBT citizens, they should not be the beneficiary of any trip by your office until they fully restore all civil rights to LGBT people in their country. Recent actions taken by the Russian government have led LGBT citizens to face not only a society that is intolerant of their basic civil rights, but also a country that would imprison them for declaring support for their own fundamental rights as humans. This has promoted an atmosphere of hate where gay people fear for their own lives and safety. Police are allowed to arrest foreigners who are considered gay or pro-gay and detain them for up to 14 days. Under their new law, as a pro-gay supporter even you could be subject to arrest and imprisonment while in Russia.
Mr. President, you will remember that in December 2011 the White House released a presidential memorandum directing executive officers and agencies that deal in foreign affairs to address human rights abuses against LGBT people abroad and to pressure foreign governments to decriminalize homosexuality. Now it is time for you and your administration to directly act on this memorandum. The LGBT community and its allies in Russia are under attack and the victims of
clear human rights abuses. We urge you to stand in solidarity with us. Refuse any diplomatic mission to Russia until President Putin stops these abuses now and agrees to make Russia a country that proudly supports its LGBT community and its allies worldwide.
We expect nothing less.
Sincerely,
Christine C. Quinn
Brad Hoylman
Deborah J. Glick
Matthew Titone
Daniel J. O’Donnell
Micah Kellner
Jimmy Van Bramer
Rosie Mendez
Daniel Dromm
Sincerely,
Christine C. Quinn
Brad Hoylman
Deborah J. Glick
Matthew Titone
Daniel J. O’Donnell
Micah Kellner
Jimmy Van Bramer
Rosie Mendez
Daniel Dromm
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Your Musical Moment for today features Harp Concerti from Handel, Boieldieu, Bochsa and Gossec from the Classic 1966 recording by the Jean-Francois Paillard Chamber Orchestra conducted by Jean-Baptiste Mari and featuring Lily Laskine as the Harp Soloist. Concluding today's post is this erotically charged collection of gentlemen who are glad to serve as your Tuesday's Temptations for this week. Thanks for sharing part of your day with me, see you again soon. Until next time as always, Enjoy!
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