Calls for mayor to cut ties with St Petersburg
Gay rights advocate Carl Katter is calling on Melbourne City Lord Mayor Robert Doyle to sever ties with its Russian sister city, St Petersburg due to its 鈥渉orrific鈥� anti-gay laws.
Katter has gathered more than 1,400 signatures on in its first 24 hours.
鈥淭he City of Melbourne has done some great work on supporting gay rights, including establishing the Relationship Declaration Register for both mixed and same-sex relationships,鈥� Katter said.
鈥淏ut their good work – and the good name of the City of Melbourne – is severely compromised by having a sister city relationship with St Petersburg.”
Change.org campaigns director Karen Skinner said there were similar petitions in Barcelona, Los Angeles and St Petersbury (Florida) to distance them from the city.
鈥淢ilan has already dumped St Petersburg as a sister city. It鈥檚 time for Melbourne to show some solidarity with the gay community of Melbourne and follow suit,鈥� Katter said.
Katter said friends in St Petersburg described the atmosphere in the Russian city as 鈥渢oxic鈥� for the gay and lesbian community.
鈥淪everal of my Russian friends have spoken of the fear they feel when they leave their homes in St Petersburg and how such laws have been the fuel for hate and violence directed to their gay and lesbian friends.鈥�
Doyle has requested a meeting with the Russian ambassador and a briefing on the issue from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
