WASHINGTON, D.C.— The U.S. Senate has passed a resolution condemning the violence and persecution against LGBTQ people in Chechnya. Last night, the Senate adopted the resolution by voice vote. The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed a nearly identical bipartisan resolution in June. To date, neither President Trump nor U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson…
NEW YORK – GLAAD today expressed outrage over President Trump’s continued silence on the attacks against LGBTQ men in Chechnya even as new reports indicate that members of the Chechen LGBTQ community could face terrorism charges if these men attempt to escape the country and attacks on them based on their perceived sexual orientation. In…
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) blasted disturbing revelations made by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson during a hearing held by the House Foreign Affairs Committee. When asked by Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) about atrocities committed against gay and bisexual men in Chechnya, Sec. Tillerson admitted that he has not raised the issue at…
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Since Novaya Gazeta broke the news, Grindr for Equality has used the app’s reach in the Chechen region of Russia to continuously update users who may be in danger. Along with their regular weekly Russian safety messages, Grindr has linked users in Chechnya to news sources reporting the details of the situation as…
TORONTO – With recent reports of abductions, detentions, enforced disappearances, torture and deaths targeting gay and bisexual men in Chechnya, a Canadian non-profit human rights organization have announced an emergency response plan to assist those in danger. Founded in 2006, Rainbow Railroad actively assists LGBTQ people escape danger through its global network of safe routes. “Since…
The arbitrary detention of men based on their (perceived) sexual orientation is continuing, almost two weeks after the news reached international attention. In spite of the global outcry, no action has been taken, either on the part of the Russian or Chechen authorities, to release those detained, ILGA-Europe reports. According to the latest information received…
ILGA-Europe’s latest update reports that the Russian LGBT Network has continued its fact finding mission on the alarming arbitrary detention, torture and killing of (perceived) gay men in Chechnya. News of the ongoing situation has received widespread media attention, but unfortunately the situation has not yet been resolved. According to information obtained by Novaya Gazeta,…
NEW YORK – Today, GLAAD called on Nikki Haley, United States Ambassador to the United Nations, to condemn the attacks on LGBTQ men by the Chechen government and investigate reports of possible imprisonment of LGBTQ people in concentration camps because of their perceived sexual orientation. GLAAD’s call to action follows reports which surfaced last week…
1 April, Novaya Gazeta reported that more than 100 men have been arbitrarily detained and at least three have been murdered by Chechen authorities for their alleged “non traditional” sexual orientation. Independent sources have confirmed the mass detention, described acts of torture, and suggested that the number of men killed may be as many as…
This week I want to devote my column to an article written by David R. Henson about the MCC church in Augusta, Ga. that was hit by a hate crime following the SCOTUS ruling showing how there is so much work yet to be done. The article first appeared at patheos.com and is reproduced with…
