Russia passed a new bill banning the promotion of “homosexual propaganda” to minors, making it a crime to:
“spread information aimed at forming non- traditional sexual behaviour among children, suggesting this behaviour is attractive, and making a false statement about the socially equal nature of traditional and non-traditional relationships,” according to The Independent .
USA Today reported that the bill still needs to be passed by the appointed upper house and be signed into law by President Vladimir Putin. They also state that “neither step is in doubt.”
USA Today also stated:
“A widespread hostility to homosexuality is shared by much of Russia’s political and religious elite. Lawmakers have accused gays of decreasing Russia’s already low birth rates and said they should be barred from government jobs, undergo forced medical treatment or be exiled.”
The new ban will impose large fines for providing any information to minors regarding the topic of lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
Those who are caught breaking the law could face between $156 for individuals and up to $31,000 for large companies and organizations.
MsnNOW stated that even foreigners could be jailed for up to 15 days and deported
Russian rights activist, Lyudmila Alexeyeva was quoted saying:
“In normal countries, no one persecutes representatives of sexual minorities. A modern person knows that these people are different from the rest just like a brunette is different from a blonde. They are not guilty of anything.”
Graeme Reid, the LGBT rights program director at Human Rights Watch said in a statement that
“Russia is trying very hard to make discrimination look respectable by calling it ‘tradition,’ but whatever term is used in the bill, it remains discrimination and a violation of the basic human rights of LGBT people.”
Russia’s ban on “homosexual propaganda” is just one of many conversations the topic, the question is what will come next?
Image via Huffington Post
