Russian deputies passed anti-transgender law

Russian lawmakers approved a law on Friday that bans gender transition and specifically prohibits individuals who have undergone gender reassignment from adopting children, marking a highly conservative turn for the country on a social level.

A statement on the State Duma's website read, "The State Duma has banned gender transition in Russia. The relevant amendments initiated by Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin and deputies from all factions have been unanimously approved in their final form."

In a separate statement on Telegram, Volodin said, "This decision protects our citizens and our children."

The text will now need to be approved by the Federation Council in the Russian parliament and signed by President Vladimir Putin before it can come into effect, but this is considered a formality as the legislators are loyal to the Kremlin.

The State Duma's statement further added that the new legislation will have profound repercussions for transgender individuals in Russia, including "preventing citizens who have changed their gender from adopting children, and their marriage contracts will be annulled."

Since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, Russia has implemented a series of conservative measures, particularly targeting the LGBTQ+ community, which the authorities view as deviant and influenced by the West.

Earlier this week, the Russian Federal Security Service announced the arrest of an activist advocating for the rights of transgender individuals, accusing them of "high treason" for supporting the Ukrainian army.

 

 

 

 

 

AFP