Russian State Duma deputies draft bill to ban gender affirming surgeries

Deputies in Russia’s State Duma have drafted a bill that would completely ban gender affirming surgeries, according to the newspaper Vedomosti. The bill has not yet been submitted for consideration, but journalists from the outlet have seen its text.

The proposed legislation would reportedly prohibit Russians from performing surgical procedures for the purpose of gender transitions as well as from changing their gender markers and names in official documents. 

State Duma member Vladislav Davankov, who represents the New People party, confirmed that the bill’s first draft is complete and said it will be introduced in the near future.

Citing sources, Vedomosti reported that Davankov is the bill’s author but that he plans for all parties to sponsor the bill and is currently in the process of collecting signatures from his colleagues. State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin reportedly supports the bill itself as well as Davankov’s plan to have all parties sign on.