Tallahassee, FL – Equality Florida posted a news release on their blog Monday morning, asking members of the community to “suspend their Sister/Friendship City relationships with Russian cities.” The organization has sent letters to the mayors of Gainesville, Orlando, Sarasota, St. Petersburg and Tallahassee, all of which have Sister Cities in Russia. “One important goal of the Sister City relationship is to encourage travel and cultural exchange amongst the citizens of our cities,” said Nadine Smith, Equality Florida’s executive director. “The anti-gay laws and lawless violence now being encouraged in Russia negate this promise, not only for Florida’s LGBT citizens, but also for all who believe in equality, diversity and tolerance.” Smith added, “By continuing Sister/Friendship City relationships with Russian cities, we are turning a blind eye to the atrocities that are occuring in Russia. It is time to take action, and in doing so, to let the Russian government know that their treatment of the LGBT community is unacceptable.” As of print, Gainesville, St. Petersburg and Tallahassee have responded, telling Equality Florida that they are “currently reviewing the requests.”