Please immediately pass a resolution suspending the "sister-city" relationship between Yakima and Derbent, Russia. We can and should send a message: we value and cherish our lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender residents and will not tolerate discrimination against our LGBT brothers and sisters by a sister city.
Why is this important?
Russia's sports minister, Vitaly Mutko, has said that foreign nationals, including Olympic athletes and spectators, will be subject to Russia's anti-gay laws during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. The city of Yakima should send a clear message that violence and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender citizens of our sister city of Derbent, Russia is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
