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Russia Passes Bill Targeting Some Discussions of Homosexuality Russia Passes Bill Targeting Some Discussions of Homosexuality
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MOSCOW — The Russian Parliament passed a bill on Tuesday that imposes a fine for what it calls the propagandizing “nontraditional” sexual relationships among minors, in the latest in a wave of socially conservative new rules here. MOSCOW — The Russian Parliament passed a bill on Tuesday that imposes a fine for what it calls propagandizing “nontraditional” sexual relationships among minors, in the latest in a wave of socially conservative new rules here.
While the bill does not clarify the meaning of “nontraditional,” in colloquial Russian it usually means gay, and the bill’s intent was clear: to discourage open discussion of homosexuality in public places or in media accessible by children.While the bill does not clarify the meaning of “nontraditional,” in colloquial Russian it usually means gay, and the bill’s intent was clear: to discourage open discussion of homosexuality in public places or in media accessible by children.
Homosexuality was illegal until the breakup of the Soviet Union.Homosexuality was illegal until the breakup of the Soviet Union.
Russia’s Parliament, the Duma, also passed a blasphemy bill that criminalizes the insulting of religion and stiffens the penalty to up to three years in prison if the insults are made inside a church, a response to a performance of the punk group Pussy Riot in Moscow’s main cathedral last year. The performers were then prosecuted for hooliganism.Russia’s Parliament, the Duma, also passed a blasphemy bill that criminalizes the insulting of religion and stiffens the penalty to up to three years in prison if the insults are made inside a church, a response to a performance of the punk group Pussy Riot in Moscow’s main cathedral last year. The performers were then prosecuted for hooliganism.
Taken together, the two bills — which will become law if passed by the Senate and signed by President Vladimir V. Putin, both of which are expected — are clear signs of the Kremlin’s growing closeness with the Russian Orthodox Church and its support for putting socially divisive issues on the legislative agenda.Taken together, the two bills — which will become law if passed by the Senate and signed by President Vladimir V. Putin, both of which are expected — are clear signs of the Kremlin’s growing closeness with the Russian Orthodox Church and its support for putting socially divisive issues on the legislative agenda.
Already, 10 cities in Russia have measures against promoting homosexuality among minors. Supporters say they are needed to protect children, though their blanket wording could even ban expressions of affection by same-sex couples in public places with children.Already, 10 cities in Russia have measures against promoting homosexuality among minors. Supporters say they are needed to protect children, though their blanket wording could even ban expressions of affection by same-sex couples in public places with children.
The bill passed Tuesday is the first concrete step toward extending this type of legislation nationally. For rights advocates in Russia, the bill against propagandizing certain relationships is alarming in its own right. But almost more concerning, they say, is the signal of societal acceptance of discrimination that likely to be picked up by violent antigay groups. The bill passed Tuesday is the first concrete step toward extending this type of legislation nationally. For rights advocates in Russia, the bill against propagandizing certain relationships is alarming in its own right. But almost more concerning, they say, is the signal of societal acceptance of discrimination that is likely to be picked up by violent antigay groups.
“This is a step backward from the progress of civilization in my country,” Vitus Media, a spokesman for the Russian LGBT Network, said in a telephone interview. “Obviously this law will elicit aggression and violence, and responsibility rests with the lawmakers who voted in its favor.”“This is a step backward from the progress of civilization in my country,” Vitus Media, a spokesman for the Russian LGBT Network, said in a telephone interview. “Obviously this law will elicit aggression and violence, and responsibility rests with the lawmakers who voted in its favor.”
The wording of the bill offers broad latitude to the Russian police, who already are engaged in what rights groups say are political prosecutions, to interpret the traditional or nontraditional nature of relationships portrayed in public places where children are present.The wording of the bill offers broad latitude to the Russian police, who already are engaged in what rights groups say are political prosecutions, to interpret the traditional or nontraditional nature of relationships portrayed in public places where children are present.
“The law is unclear,” Mr. Media said. “You cannot understand what exactly is forbidden. If you say traditional and nontraditional relations are equal, then you violated the law because it is propaganda, even if you don’t say anything positive about either one.”“The law is unclear,” Mr. Media said. “You cannot understand what exactly is forbidden. If you say traditional and nontraditional relations are equal, then you violated the law because it is propaganda, even if you don’t say anything positive about either one.”
As Parliament was voting on the rule, antigay demonstrators threw eggs at a smaller group trying to express opposition to the bill with a “kissing protest.”As Parliament was voting on the rule, antigay demonstrators threw eggs at a smaller group trying to express opposition to the bill with a “kissing protest.”
The antigay crowd sang Orthodox prayers and shouted “Moscow is not Sodom!” Police detained about two dozen opponents of the bill, apparently because their group lacked a parade permit, which are never issued for gay rights groups in Moscow.The antigay crowd sang Orthodox prayers and shouted “Moscow is not Sodom!” Police detained about two dozen opponents of the bill, apparently because their group lacked a parade permit, which are never issued for gay rights groups in Moscow.
Without defining “nontraditional,” the new bill bans making available to children information “intended to form in a minor a nontraditional sexual foundation.” It also prohibits portraying “the attractiveness” of such relations and bans asserting “the social equivalence of traditional and nontraditional sexual relations.” Fines range from $155 for an individual to up to $31,000 for a media outlet.Without defining “nontraditional,” the new bill bans making available to children information “intended to form in a minor a nontraditional sexual foundation.” It also prohibits portraying “the attractiveness” of such relations and bans asserting “the social equivalence of traditional and nontraditional sexual relations.” Fines range from $155 for an individual to up to $31,000 for a media outlet.
“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,” Graeme Reid, the director of Human Rights Watch’s LGBT program said in a statement before the vote.“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,” Graeme Reid, the director of Human Rights Watch’s LGBT program said in a statement before the vote.
On NTV television, the lawmaker Yelena Mizulina explained the change as necessary because “using the term homosexuality we involuntarily propagandize it — this homosexuality. We decided not to propagandize the homosexuality in any form, even through this law.”On NTV television, the lawmaker Yelena Mizulina explained the change as necessary because “using the term homosexuality we involuntarily propagandize it — this homosexuality. We decided not to propagandize the homosexuality in any form, even through this law.”