Exeter City Council recognises the importance of its twinning relationship with Yaroslavl, Russia. The City Council recognises that this relationship is long-term and that it has been at its best when jointly we have put our people first, introducing them to new experiences and new friends. Our twinning relationship has helped us to meet, mix and get along, to share our ideas, our hopes and our fears and we have given each other support.
It is in this spirit that Exeter City Council raises concern over the treatment of Lesbian Gay Bi-sexual and Transgender (LGBT) people in Russia. In 2013, The Russian LGBT Network, an umbrella LGBT group based in St. Petersburg, conducted an anonymous survey on discrimination against LGBT populations, more than 50% of the 2,007 respondents had experienced psychological abuse, and 15% had experienced physical violence.
The recent proposals and adoption of anti-LGBT laws in Russia, which include banning representing “traditional” and “non-traditional” relationships as equally acceptable, making it illegal to say anything positive about being gay publicly, or to tell a child that there is nothing wrong with being gay or being raised by gay parents, has coincided with evidence of the spread of homophobic violence in the country.
Exeter City Council recognises that putting people first in our twinning relationships means putting all people first, whatever their sexual orientations.
This Council therefore RESOLVES:
1. To write to the Foreign Secretary and Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, expressing this Council’s disquiet at the continuing Civil Rights issues occurring in Russia, including the systematic discrimination towards the LGBT community; and
2. That it considers the above matter to be in direct contravention of the Twinning Agreement between the Cities of Exeter and Yaroslavl, dated 17 October 1989, and as such requests officers to:
a) Write to the City Administration in Yaroslavl offering its support to the LGBT community in Yaroslavl in particular and in Russia as a whole; and
b) Make representations to this effect to the official delegation from Yaroslavl during their forthcoming civic visit to the City in July 2014.
Minutes:
Councillor Mitchell, seconded by Councillor Pearson, moved a Notice of Motion in the following terms:-
That the Council:-
· recognises the importance of its twinning relationship with Yaroslavl, Russia. The City Council recognises that this relationship is long-term and that it has been at its best when jointly we have put our people first, introducing them to new experiences and new friends. Our twinning relationship has helped us to meet, mix and get along, to share our ideas, our hopes and our fears and we have given each other support.
· It is in this spirit that Exeter City Council raises concern over the treatment of Lesbian Gay Bi-sexual and Transgender (LGBT) people in Russia. In 2013, The Russian LGBT Network, an umbrella LGBT group based in St. Petersburg, conducted an anonymous survey on discrimination against LGBT populations, more than 50% of the 2,007 respondents had experienced psychological abuse, and 15% had experienced physical violence.
· The recent proposals and adoption of anti-LGBT laws in Russia, which include banning representing “traditional” and “non-traditional” relationships as equally acceptable, making it illegal to say anything positive about being gay publicly, or to tell a child that there is nothing wrong with being gay or being raised by gay parents, has coincided with evidence of the spread of homophobic violence in the country.
Exeter City Council recognises that putting people first in our twinning relationships means putting all people first, whatever their sexual orientations.
Exeter City Council resolved to:-
(1) To write to the Foreign Secretary and Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, expressing this Council’s disquiet at the continuing Civil Rights issues occurring in Russia, including the systematic discrimination towards the LGBT community; and
(2) That it considers the above matter to be in direct contravention of the Twinning Agreement between the Cities of Exeter and Yaroslavl, dated 17 October 1989, and as such requests officers to:
Write to the City Administration in Yaroslavl offering its support to the LGBT community in Yaroslavl in particular and in Russia as a whole; and
Make representations to this effect to the official delegation from Yaroslavl during their forthcoming civic visit to the City in July 2014.
In presenting the Notice of Motion, Councillor Mitchell stated that over the past 25 years the City Council had valued its twinning agreement with Yaroslavl and the friendship between the two cities. But like any friendship differences should be aired and open. The twinning agreement states that the “Cities are united in the desire to develop as far as is possible links between people in the USSR and Great Britain in a spirit of peaceful co-operation and mutual understanding of all peoples”. With the recent proposals and adoption of anti-LGBT laws in Russia which limits the rights of the LGBT community, he felt that this was not in spirit of the Twinning Charter.
The LGBT community and their supporters were subject to fines and even imprisonment and LGBT tourists were sometimes deported. The recent proposals include banning representing “traditional” and “non-traditional” relationships as equally acceptable and making it illegal to say anything positive about being gay publicly. Furthermore, LGBT community are not permitted to raise children and there has been evidence of the spread of homophobic violence in the country. The Mayor of Yaroslavl who supported human rights has been detained and is awaiting trial.
The City Council, whilst valuing the 25 year friendship between the two cities, recognises that putting people first in our twinning relationships means putting all people first, whatever their sexual orientations.
Councillor Pearson, in seconding the motion, thanked Councillor Mitchell for bringing this matter to the Council’s attention. He stated that the Twinning Agreement includes the words “mutual understanding of all people” and asserted that all people are different and that no one should be discriminated against. He stated that the motion was not a criticism of the Yaroslavl City Administration or its residents but the Council expressing its disquiet at the continuing Civil Rights issues and the systematic discrimination towards the LGBT community occurring in Russia.
Councillor Winterbottom, seconded by Councillor Mrs Henson moved an amendment to part two of the Motion to read:
“Informal discussions take place with the Exeter/Yaroslavl Twinning Association, expressing the concerns of the Council over civil rights issues occurring in Russia, including the systematic discrimination towards the LGBT community, and urges them to raise these concerns with their counterparts in Yaroslavl”.
The amendment proposed by Councillor Winterbottom was put to the vote and lost.
In supporting the motion, Councillors, whilst recognising the importance of the friendship and twinning agreement with Yaroslavl, supported upholding the rights of the LGBT community. People should not be victimised and subject to verbal and physical abuse because of their sexual orientations and in the twenty first century people should be free to choose whom they love.
Councillor Mitchell, in response, stated that this resolution sent a message that this Council does not tolerate the victimisation of the LGBT community and its supporters.
In accordance with Standing Order 27(1), a named vote on the Motion was called for, as follows:
Voting for:
Councillors Baldwin, Bialyk, Bowkett, Branston, Brock, Bull, Choules, Clark, Dawson, Denham, The Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Fullam, Henson D, Mrs Henson, Leadbetter, The Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor, Councillor Martin, Mitchell, Morris, Mottram, Newby, Owen, Payne, Pearson, Prowse, Robson, Ruffle, Sheldon, Shiel, Spackman, Sutton and Wardle.
(32 Members)
Abstain:
Councillor Winterbottom
(1 Member)
The Notice of Motion was carried.