Ending "Sister-City" Relationships

    Breaking such ties may seem daunting but another US city allready has broken their ties: Lansing, Michigan has broken their ties with St. Petersburg, Russia, August 11, 2013, citing the fact that St. Petersbug's laws were the model for the national Laws.

As I understand it the city of Sochi, had anti-gay laws on their books before the Russian National legislative body, Duma, unanimously voted in favor of similar Laws. This means that the Sochi (and other regional) Laws would still be in effect if the national laws are repealed (Laws that would apply at these Olympics and oppress Gay Russians and possibly visitors.) Only a National Law that Outlaws the regional Laws would repeal the local laws quickly enough to be prepared for the Olympics this February. So "sister-city" pressure is actually very important in this fight.


    In principle alone maintaining Long Beach's "sister-city" relationship with Sochi under the current circumstances is tantamount to supporting their legalized discrimination and violent, vigilante enforcement accepted by their government. These are not the behaviors of a civilized nation. The Russian elite however consider their status connected to the international impression that Russia is civilized, scientific, modern, and even democratic. Yet these laws are contrary to all of those.

    The clear statement that we wish to sever ties over this must include admonishment for their uncivilized laws, based on unscientific, out dated ideas, and that these laws fly in the face of democratic principles. That is the kind of language that will make them take notice. Even if they stubbornly refuse to repeal the laws.

    The contemporary Russian elite (government officials and business management) are acting as entitled as the Russian elite of Czarist Russia. Using religion and a regulated media to control and manipulate the masses. Gays are the first official target, but Jews are not safe either in this climate. (If allowed to pick on these groups without question, they will pick on others as well.) This situation is too much like Germany before WWII. We cannot and must not stand by without taking action.