City of West Hollywood Continues Support of LGBT People in Russia

The following is a press release from the City of West Hollywood

In response to the recent anti-LGBT law signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin; ongoing legal attacks; and violent activity against the LGBT population in Russia, the City of West Hollywood is continuing its multi-tiered campaign to assist and support LGBT organizations and individuals in that country. In early August, the West Hollywood City Council unanimously passed the resolution, “Condemnation of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Legal Attacks on the LGBT Community and New Laws Targeting LGBT Tourists and Winter Olympics Participants.” As the Russian government refuses to back away from their newest anti-gay laws, the City of West Hollywood’s response includes the following actions:

• Publicizing, criticizing and condemning the discriminatory actions of Russian President Putin, the Russian legislature and the non-governmental groups and individuals who are attacking LGBT people in Russia.
• Providing assistance to LGBT organizations who are working to fight discrimination and advance equality for LGBT people in Russia.
• Providing assistance to LGBT people who want to leave Russia and obtain asylum in the United States.

In June 2013, Putin signed a bill banning the “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations to minors.” Human Rights Watch described the anti-gay propaganda law as “a profoundly discriminatory and dangerous bill that is bound to worsen homophobia in Russia.”

Long an advocate for the rights of all people, the City has passed several resolutions denouncing discriminatory policies both in the United States and abroad. In the 1980’s the City was one of the first cities in the United States to adopt an ordinance establishing restrictions on investments and contracting with companies and persons doing business with the Republic of South Africa and Namibia due to their discriminatory system of apartheid. In 1993, the City of West Hollywood was one of the first cities in the country to oppose the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Pursue” policy.  In 2000, the City of West Hollywood passed a resolution denouncing the U.S. Supreme Court unjust ruling in Boy Scouts of America et al. v. Dale., where James Dale a gay assistant scoutmaster had his membership revoked from the BSA when they discovered that he was gay. In 2007, the City condemned the violence against LGBT demonstrators in Moscow and the failure of police to protect them. In 2012, the City passed a resolution condemned the Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which prescribed the death penalty and life imprisonment for LGBT people. In addition, the City frequently hosts events to educate the public about international LGBT issues through the Human Rights Speakers Series.

For more information, please contact Fran Solomon, Deputy to West Hollywood Councilmember John Heilman, at (323) 848-6460.