Mike Weatherley, the Conservative Member of Parliament for Hove and Portslade, is concerned over the persecution of gay people across the world, at a time when gay rights in England and Wales have reached a new high.
Mike has been contacted by a number of residents who are concerned about the introduction of legislation targeting the LGBT community in Russia. While the West has a relatively good record for the protection of gay people, other countries around the world have barbaric penalties simply for being gay.
Commenting, Mike said:
“We have come a long way addressing gay rights in this country over the past few decades. However, sadly it appears that a number of countries recently, especially Russia, are moving backwards when it comes to equal rights for gay people. Britain is now a beacon when it comes to promoting equality, which is why we cannot idly standby at this gross injustice.”
Mike added:
“The eyes of the world will be on Russia when it hosts the 2014 Winter Olympics and yet Russia would be wrong if it thinks that it can simply sweep its increasingly appalling gay rights record under the carpet and hope that it’s not challenged by other democracies and the media. I have written to the Prime Minister and am confident that Britain will raise its concerns with Russia and would encourage other Western nations to do the same.”
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