In recent weeks, the Russian government has enacted legislation that has made homosexuality effectively illegal - and punishable by significant fines and/or jail time.
Russian Neo-Nazis, Militias and Gangs are using this hostile legal climate as an excuse to rape, torture and murder LGBT Russians in increasing numbers. The government and police are either participating directly or electing not to stop vigilantes from committing these atrocities.
We ask the White House to order the Department of Homeland Security to accept Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Russians as Refugees to the United States based on this systemic violence and persecution.
We further ask that the DHS temporarily lift restrictions on the number of LGBT Russians that may claim asylum.