LA Gay Councilmen Protest Russia's Anti-Gay Treatment With Photo, Resolution, Flag Ceremony
LA's two newly-elected gay city councilmen are flying their rainbow flag with exactly the kind of pride we need in politics.
Councilman Mike Bonin posted to Facebook the fantastic photo below of him and Councilman Mitch O'Farrell, who are both openly gay, to announce their resolution in support of the persecuted LGBT community in St. Petersburg, a Sister City of LA. Their resolution passed with a unanimous 14-0 vote in the LA City Council Tuesday.
Rather than sever ties with St. Petersburg, Bonin and O'Farrell's resolution calls on President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry "to take action to end the persecution, abuse, and murder of gays around the world."
This action should include, they say:
"expand[ing] and grant[ing] expedited asylum to refugees who are fleeing persecution in another country because of their sexual/gender orientation or identity."
and
"making strong, public and international statements condemning such persecution and exerting all necessary pressure on governments to take action."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/20/la-gay-councilmen-photo-russia_n_3786124.html