Weeks have passed since reports first broke about LGBTQ men being attacked and detained in Chechnya. Amid the global outcry and even in the wake of chilling reports of the region's president, Ramzan Kadyrov, vowing to "eliminate" the gay population by Ramadan, Donald Trump has remained silent.
Now, as Nikki Haley, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations is expected to meet with Trump today, GLAAD is calling for the White House to condemn these discriminatory attacks.
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"President Trump must speak out in support of human rights and against the anti-LGBTQ violence in Chechnya," said Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD President and CEO in a release. "Ambassador Haley's statement was a step in the right direction, but President Trump and the United States must take a stronger role in keeping LGBTQ safe and holding those responsible for these attacks accountable. LGBTQ rights are human rights, and it's up to the United States to lead the effort in protecting LGBTQ acceptance across the globe."
The release goes on to list groups, departments, and notable figures who have spoken out against the attacks, including the U.S. Department of State, United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, and Nancy Pelosi. "LGBTQ supporters and political leaders are joining a chorus to condemn these attacks because they know time is of the essence," the statement concludes. "The world must stop what is happening in Checnya."
