SAN FRANCISCO — The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) announced Thursday the launch of a campaign — “Stop LGBT Hate in Russia” — calling on global companies doing business in Russia to demand the repeal of recently enacted laws that target LGBT people and allies.
The petition urges companies that do business in Russia and have non-discrimination policies to call on the Russian government to repeal laws that criminalize so-called “propaganda” promoting “non-traditional” relationships and ban same-sex couples from adopting children.
“Russia’s appalling treatment of LGBT people has taken a shocking turn with the passage of these horrific laws,” said NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell.
“In the wake of these laws, discrimination and violence against the LGBT community in Russia are utterly unchecked. We cannot sit on our hands and do nothing. If we are to ever live in a world where the security and safety of our LGBT brothers and sisters are ensured no matter where they live, we must fight back in every way we can,” said Kendall.
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The recently enacted law banning homosexual “propaganda” makes it illegal to expose minors to information that portrays “nontraditional sexual relations” as normal or attractive. Authors of the bill have justified it as a measure aimed at protecting children, and not suppressing the LGBT community.
On Thursday, a Russian lawmaker proposed a separate bill that would deny gay parents custody over their children.
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Learn more about the campaign here, or sign the petition here.
