Joe.My.God. LGBT News
Via press release:
The Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus denounced reports of hundreds gay men being arrested, detained, and tortured in Chechnya, an autonomous, predominantly Muslim subject of Russia. Additional reports indicate that several of the detained individuals have been murdered in custody. On April 10th 2017, Representatives Cicilline and Lowenthal led a bipartisan letter of 50 Members of Congress urging Secretary Tillerson to speak out publicly against these reports and to pressure the Russian government to investigate and stop the violence and arrests.
“The situation in Chechnya is horrific,” said LGBT Equality Caucus Co-Chair Rep. David N. Cicilline (RI-01). “Chechen authorities are acting in clear violation of international law. Secretary Tillerson needs to clearly condemn these actions during his visit to Moscow. These abuses cannot be tolerated.”
“These reports coming out of Chechnya regarding the targeted arrests and murders of gay men are appalling,” said LGBT Equality Caucus Vice-Chair Rep. Alan Lowenthal (CA-47). “The most fundamental internationally-accepted human rights are the right to life, liberty, and security of person. I stand with the LGBT community in the Chechen Republic, and I call on Secretary Tillerson to denounce these atrocities and I call on the Russian and Chechen authorities to immediately halt these arrests and prosecute those who have tortured and murdered innocent people”.
Joined ltr urging Sec.Tillerson to take action to address gay men being arrested,detained,& tortured in #Chechnya.https://t.co/V24VWrWTEW
— Rep. Frank Pallone (@FrankPallone) April 13, 2017
Reported anti-LGBT attacks in #Chechnya are appalling. Joined colleagues in urging @StateDept to act #EyesOnChechnya https://t.co/DuK32VKg2j
— Rep. Joe Crowley (@repjoecrowley) April 12, 2017
I condemn atrocities by #Chechnya officials 2 arrest, torture + murder actual or perceived #gay men in violation of their basic #humanrights
— Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (@RosLehtinen) April 12, 2017
I've signed this letter. The State Dept. must strongly condemn the attacks on gay men in Chechnya and demand Russia stop the violence. https://t.co/RuLpbazLBU
— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) April 12, 2017
I hope the Sec of @StateDept uses this trip to address the reports of the human rights crisis happening in Chechnya https://t.co/4745rTV04d
— Bonnie WatsonColeman (@RepBonnie) April 12, 2017
The @StateDept & Sec. Tillerson must pressure the Russian government to stop these attacks on the #LGBT community. #EyesOnChechnya https://t.co/r9IqmCxem0
— Rep. Dan Kildee (@RepDanKildee) April 12, 2017
Secretary Tillerson must speak out against the horrific anti-LGBT violence perpetrated by Chechnya, a Russian client state. #EyesOnChechnya
— David E. Price (@RepDavidEPrice) April 12, 2017
While he is in Moscow, Secretary Tillerson must pressure the Russian government to investigate & stop the violence & arrests #EyesOnChechnya https://t.co/d5E5D8w5OX
— Rep. Jimmy Panetta (@RepJimmyPanetta) April 12, 2017