Rep. Hoadley offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 79.

            A resolution to condemn the horrific treatment of gay men in Chechnya and to call upon the President and Congress of the United States to take action without further delay.

            Whereas, Gay men in Chechnya are being targeted, detained, tortured and killed by pro-Kremlin authorities based on nothing more than their sexual orientation. At least one camp, with credible media reports of up to four such facilities, has been opened for the express purpose of detaining, beating, and torturing gay men. These men are in danger not only of persecution by the governmental authorities but also to so-called "honor killings" by members of their own families; and

            Whereas, We cannot stand idly by and turn a blind eye to such sweeping and outrageous violations of basic human rights, no matter where they occur. People should not fear for their lives because of who they are or who they love; and

Whereas, By all accounts, the Russian Federation is ignoring anti-gay persecution and violence and failing to ensure safety and justice for the victims, despite a clear obligation to protect basic human rights under international law; and

            Whereas, A spokesman for Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyov was quoted widely as saying, "You cannot detain and persecute people who simple do not exist in the republic," promoting the erasure of gay men; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we unequivocally condemn the horrific treatment of gay men in Chechnya and call upon the President and Congress of the United States to use every available diplomatic tool at their disposal to bring the violence, torture, and killing of gay Chechens to an end without further delay; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.