Russian lawmakers want to ban adoption by citizens of countries that allow gender transitions. What would this mean for the children involved?

The Russian State Duma has introduced a bill to ban the adoption of Russian children by citizens of countries where gender transitions are legal.

Russia’s own ban on gender transitions

‘They’re taking our futures away’ Transgender Russians on what Moscow’s coming ban on medical and legal transitions will mean for them

a year ago

Russia’s own ban on gender transitions

‘They’re taking our futures away’ Transgender Russians on what Moscow’s coming ban on medical and legal transitions will mean for them

a year ago

The ban would affect not just E.U. member states but also countries like Bolivia, Bhutan, Kyrgyzstan, and Pakistan, among others. However, according to an explanatory note attached to the bill, the restrictions are primarily aimed at NATO countries.

Judging by a report from the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA), as of 2020, there were 39 countries whose laws would likely exempt them from Russia’s proposed ban. Most of these countries are in Africa, South America, and Asia.

Countries where citizens can’t change their names in passports or where gender transitions are explicitly banned

None, at least according to official statistics. In 2023, foreign citizens are recorded as having adopted just six children from Russia; in five cases, the parents were Italian citizens, and in one case, they were French citizens. Both Italy and France allow gender transitions.

In its summary of last year’s adoptions by foreigners, the Russian Supreme Court mentions 16 cases; however, in the 10 cases not included in official statistics, the adopting parties were the children’s stepfathers. Their citizenship was not included in the summary due to privacy laws, but the proposed amendments would not affect them regardless of citizenship, because the process of adoption by stepparents is regulated by different legislation.

Russia’s ban on adoptions by U.S. citizens

‘We expected repressions, not barbarity’ How the Kremlin's 2012 adoption ban broke the will of Russia's political class

2 years ago

Russia’s ban on adoptions by U.S. citizens

‘We expected repressions, not barbarity’ How the Kremlin's 2012 adoption ban broke the will of Russia's political class

2 years ago

Yes, though the adoption rate of Russian children by foreign parents began to fall as early as 2012, when Russia banned the adoption of Russian children by U.S. citizens. In 2012, foreign citizens adopted 2,604 Russian children; in 2019, they only adopted 240.