Here is what I would like to know. Of the scores of human rights officials currently in St. Petersburg for the G20, is there at least one who has the conscience and the presence of mind to get up and and go to the airport after what happened yesterday?

And in case you are wondering, what happened yesterday is that while Putin was telling the Associated Press that no one is violating LGBT rights in Russia, his United Russia party was filing a bill that will take custody away from parents known or suspected to be homosexual.

AT THE EXACT SAME TIME. Any human rights official or civil society representative who continues to stay at G20 events after this is not only being played for a fool but is personally contributing to legitimizing this regime and its campaign to take away my children and the children of other gays and lesbians.

Quote from Russian LGBT author, activist and journalist Masha Gessen via her Facebook page.  Gessen is fleeing Russia, for her safety, and for the safety of her children.

She recently spoke at our Town Hall Meeting on Russia in NYC.

BREAKING: Obama is now canceling plans to meet with Russian President Putin next month at the G20 meeting in St. Petersburg

President Obama, appearing on Jay Leno’s Tonight Show, expressed concerns about Russia’s draconian crackdown on gay and trans people (video).

UPDATE:  AP is reporting that President Obama is now canceling plans to meet with Russian President Putin next month at the G20 meeting in St. Petersburg, in part because of US concerns about “human rights.”  That means us.