Russia extends homophobic ‘gay propaganda’ law to include all adults
The law means any LGBTQ content for adults is now also banned.
Russia has extended a law that bans spreading what it calls ‘gay propaganda’ to anyone of any age.
Previously the 2013 law (the Purpose of Protecting Children from Information Advocating for a Denial of Traditional Family Values act) meant any event, act, or material regarded as an attempt to promote homosexuality towards minors was banned and could incur a fine.
Proposals to extend the law were brought forward in July. On Thursday (24 November) it was reported that the law had been passed after a third and final reading.
At the time, Russia’s Parliamentary Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said: “Demands to legalise same-sex marriages in Russia are a thing of the past,” and that “Attempts to impose alien values on our society have failed.”
Reuters reports that fines could be as much as 400,000 roubles (£5,464) for individuals and up to 5 million roubles (£68,310) for legal entities. Punishments also include 15 days of arrest and subsequent expulsion from the country for foreigners.
The news agency also reports that the bill must be seen by parliament’s upper house and then signed by President Vladimir Putin before taking effect.
In October, Russia fined TikTok for failing to remove content that violated Russia’s anti-LGBTQ ‘gay propaganda’ laws as well as the streaming service Twitch for an interview with a Ukrainian political figure.
Previously an LGBTQ news website – Gay.ru – was banned for violating the law.
Russia’s law has been as the basis for a very similar law in Hungary, which bans LGBTQ content in schools.
Neither same-sex marriages nor civil unions of same-sex couples are allowed in Russia; as of 2020, the approval Constitutional amendment led to the banning of same-sex marriage.
A closeted gay man living in Moscow, Russia recently told Attitude: “As an LGBTQ+ person, I’m afraid, but I’m used to living with various risks.”
“I’m secretive about my sexuality at work, and apply a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy to all personal matters.”