Coalition Of Organizations Including Amnesty International Calls On Edinburgh To Use “Twinning” Influence To Halt St. Petersburg Proposed Anti-Gay “Propoganda” Law

A coalition of groups including Amnesty International Scotland, Equality Network, Scottish Youth Parliament and NUS Scotland LGBT have all called on Edinburgh's Lord Provost to use the city's 'twinning arrangement' with St Petersburg in order to urge authorities in Russia's second largest city not to enact a bill which would threaten freedom of expression and fuel discrimination against the city's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community. If enacted, the law would allow the authorities to impose fines of up to the equivalent of £1,000 for “public actions aimed at propaganda of sodomy, lesbianism, bisexuality, and transgenderism among minors.” Under the measure, freedom of assembly and expression for LGBTI groups would be prohibited anywhere children might be present. This would rule out nearly all public events carried out by or on behalf of LGBTI people and organisations. The publication of anything relating to LGBTI rights or providing assistance or advice - including informative leaflets as well as publications in the media and on the internet - would also be severely curtailed. Local LGBTI rights activists have condemned the law, saying it will provide legal cover for banning any of their actions, including the distribution of information leaflets or even actions against homophobia. Amnesty International's Programme Director in Scotland, Shabnum Mustapha, said, "Throughout Russia, we have witnessed a clampdown on freedom of expression of LGBTI individuals, NGOs and activists. There has been harassment, intimidation and interference with gay prides and other public events; as well physical violence and the detention of peaceful demonstrators by the police. To seek to 'legitimise' this discrimination and oppression of the LGBTI community through legislation is appalling." Nathan Sparkling, NUS Scotland's LGBT Officer, said, “Legislation such as this will only further marginalise LGBTI people and must be stopped - in St Petersburg and throughout Russia. The notion that Russia's youth are somehow being converted through 'propaganda' would be laughable if the repercussions weren't so dangerous." Tom French, Policy Coordinator for the Equality Network, said, "The twinning of St Petersburg and Edinburgh provides the Lord Provost with a legitimate platform from which to raise grave concerns about the treatment of the LGBTI community and to call on the Governor of St Petersburg to oppose the legislation. Failure to do so would be tantamount to condoning this draconian and extremely harmful legislation." And Grant Costello, Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament, said, "The Scottish Youth Parliament hope that Edinburgh City Council encourages all of the city's international partners and friends from around the world to acknowledge the importance of fairness and equality in civic society.” Edinburgh has been 'twinned' with St Petersburg since 1995.