You Might Like
Luxembourg’s gay PM called on to bring up gay rights with Putin during Russia visit
Luxembourg’s openly gay Prime Minister Xavier Bettel is being called on to discuss gay rights when he meets with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in the next few weeks.
This will be a big meeting between the world’s only openly gay political leader and the president of a country that prides itself on banning ‘gay propaganda’.
In a press conference today (2 September), Bettel said he would be visiting Moscow to meet with Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, and he will also visit Ukraine.
He said he also planned to discuss the Ukrainian and Syrian crises, immigration and terrorism.
The meeting is being carried out as Luxembourg currently holds presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Human rights activists have encouraged Bettel to bring up LGBTI rights.
Speaking to Gay Star News, a spokesperson for International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex – Europe advocacy group said:
‘We encourage all European and international leaders to address the issue of human rights in Russia, and in particular, the very sad situation with LGBTI rights.
‘We would definitely welcome [Bettel] to raise the issues of LGBTI rights with Putin. For the last few years, Russia has disregarded all calls from human rights organizations and kept their homophobic policies.
‘It is important that everyone who believes in equality keeps up the united front, so if Bettel can bring it up, that would most certainly be welcome.’
The post Luxembourg’s gay PM called on to bring up gay rights with Putin during Russia visit appeared first on Gay Star News.
Joe Morgan
You Might Like
