Lansing, Mich. Wants to End Russian City Relationship Over Anti-Gay Policies

Officials in Lansing want to end their community's "sister cities" relationship with the Russian city of St. Petersburg due to that country's anti-gay policies.

The Lansing State Journal and MLive.com report Lansing City Council voted unanimously Monday calling for end to the relationship.

A new Russian law is aimed at "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations among minors." It imposes fines for organizations, plus stiffer penalties for propaganda online or in the media. St. Petersburg was one of several cities to pass similar laws at local level before that.

According to the Lansing Regional Sister Cities Commission, the city's relationship with one district of St. Petersburg formally began in 1994 with a youth exchange program but fell dormant after political and geographic districts of St. Petersburg were changed several years ago.