Russian lawmakers move to keep information on homosexuality from kids

Russian police officers separate a protester and a gay rights activist clashing
outside the lower house of parliament in Moscow.
(Vasily Maximov / AFP/Getty Images / June 11, 2013)

MOSCOW – Despite opposition from human rights activists, Russia’s lower house of parliament Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a bill that would ban providing youngsters with details on homosexuality.

The lower house, or State Duma, voted 436-0 with one abstention to pass the bill introduced via the pro-Kremlin United Russia political party banning “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations. ” The live still wants to reach in the federation council, or senate, and feel signed by President Vladimir Putin, other then is deemed virtually bound to turn into law, possibly by the tip of June.

Until the vote, many hundred anti-gay and religious activists clashed along with the dozens of gay activists and also their supporters outside the State Duma, across from Red Square in Moscow, punching or shoving a few gay activists and people that came to rally to them, and drenching others in urine. Twenty individuals were arrested.

Lawyer Nikolai Alekseyev, a gay rights activist, same he's going to file a lawsuit against State Duma deputies Vtaly Milonov and Yelena Mizulina for inspiring hatred and hostility toward the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.

Violence against gays is common in Russia, though homosexuality was decriminalized in 1993, and many regions have already adopted anti-gay policies.

The bill approved via the State Duma on Tuesday would develop a nationwide ban on informing minors about so-called nontraditional sexual relations. Violations might result in fines ranging from about $150 to $31, 000, with foreigners conjointly facing arrest and deportation.

The State Duma conjointly passed a bill Tuesday stipulating that anyone found guilty of “insulting” the religious feelings of “believers” faces up to 3 years in prison. This bill is likewise thought-about nearly guaranteed to turn into law.

The proposed legislation is in reaction onto the anti-putin church performance of one's feminist punk-collective Pussy Riot, 2 of whose members are now serving time in prisons in rural Russia after being convicted of “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred. ”

Tanya Lokshina, a senior researcher for human rights watch, same the bills aim to quash freedom of expression. The vague language in each bills defining “propaganda, ” “nontraditional sexual relations, ” “insult” and “feelings of believers” provides authorities virtually limitless freedom in persecuting whomever they will wish, she same.

Laws restricting media, internet, assembly and nongovernmental organizations are passed in the past year.

“This is another step within the whole attack on the very best to freely categorical your opinion, a right guaranteed via the constitution of one's Russian Federation, ” Lokshina same.