Hi Ms. Clark,

I know that I’m one of probably many voices in your inbox contacting you about the Seattle City Council’s call to NOT take a stand on Russian anti-LGBT laws. Given what I have seen and read, most of us LGBT folk here in Seattle have no way of imagining the horrific oppression that is being rained down on the LGBT people of Russia. I know I have nothing to compare it to in my own life experience. I honestly hope that’s true of you, too.

However, even symbolic gestures can mean a lot, and they do get noticed. (The people at the Russian consulate sure noticed the protest the other day! They were pissed. This means the protest—a symbolic gesture—really struck a nerve.)

I ask you to please reconsider, and to address a resolution condemning the anti LGBT violence in Russia at the earliest possible convenience. Please. People are dying over there. The very least we can do is publicly say, “it’s wrong to kill people because of their sexual orientation.” I mean, come on…

May this find you and yours well.

Grant Thornley