WASHINGTON– The World Congress of Families is moving full speed ahead with plans to hold an international anti-LGBT conference at the Kremlin in Moscow this fall, despite the growing international crisis in Ukraine and the withdrawal of key conference partner Concerned Women for America over concerns that holding the conference would give the appearance of “giving aid and comfort to Vladimir Putin.”  Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Director of Global Engagement Ty Cobb issued the following statement:

"If a group like Concerned Women for America recognizes the recklessness of providing support for the Putin regime, then it’s incredible other anti-LGBT groups would not follow suit. President Putin has trampled the rights of its LGBT citizens at home and is embroiled in an international crisis over Ukraine. The other partners in the World Congress of Families must now follow suit and withdraw from this event.  HRC calls on the National Organization for Marriage, Focus on the Family and the other American partners of this conference to renounce their ties to the Putin regime and cancel their participation in the World Congress of Families."

The World Congress of Families brings together thousands of anti-LGBT activists from around the world to plot their next moves to block equality around the world.  The leadership of this organization is dominated by Americans who have lavished praise on the Putin regime for their crackdown on LGBT rights and freedom of expression.

More information on the WCF and their American partners is available here.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.