Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales will travel this week to Qatar, and the trip is drawing criticism that the mayor is breaking his own directives.

Qatar is known for its anti-LGBT laws, and Gonzales’ trip was announced just days after the mayor reaffirmed Santa Fe’s ban on city employee travel to states that have passed what advocates say are discrimination laws against the LGBT community.

The openly-gay mayor was selected to go to Qatar by the US Conference of Mayors, the Santa Fe New Mexican reports. Qatar will pay for the trip.

According to a city statement, the mayor decided to take the trip “after receiving assurances from the US Conference of Mayors that he will have the opportunity to raise human rights issues in the meetings.”

http://www.weaselzippers.us/266866-days-after-santa-fes-dem-mayor-bans-city-employees-frm-travelling-to-anti-lgbt-states-mayor-travel-to-islamic-qatar/