Equality Florida to St. Pete: End Ties With Sister City

Equality Florida is asking St. Petersburg leaders to sever ties with "sister city" Saint Petersburg, Russia, after a rise of "anti-gay violence" and "extreme anti-gay legislation."

In an open letter to St. Peterburg Mayor Bill Foster and the City Council, Nadine Smith – who leads Equality Florida – cites recent anti-gay laws passed in Russia that include:

• Ban on gay couples and single parents from adopting Russian orphans;
• Allowing police to detain tourists they suspect to be gay or "pro-gay";
• Crackdown on "gay propaganda" for organizing gay pride events or passing along information about safe sex. 

Smith also writes:

"While Saint Petersburg, Florida joins so many other communities in guaranteeing  workplace and family equality, ending hate violence, and celebrating our diverse community, we cannot stand silently by while close partners of our pursue policies of hate and violence."

She also notes a rise in anti-gay violence by "white supremacist hate groups" that go online to lure young gay men to remote locations to commit violent acts, which are videotaped and posted.

Equality Florida describes itself as "the largest civil rights organization dedicated to securing full equality for Florida’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community."

According to TBO.com, the two St. Petersburgs are not "official" sister cities, but are linked on Sister Cities International. The city of St. Petersburg, Florida, has a page dedicated to Saint Petersburg, Russia, on its website. 

Councilman Steve Kornell, who is openly gay, told TBO.com he will raise the issue at a City Council meeting.