Russian State Duma unanimously approves amendments banning LGBT 'propaganda’ regardless of age
Russia’s State Duma deputies voted unanimously in the first reading to adopt amendments to the country’s Criminal Code that will ban “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships” among Russians of all ages, according to the parliament’s official website.
The two bills approved by the Duma will add two articles to the Criminal Code. The first will impose a fine of 200,000–800,000 rubles (approximately $3,250–$13,000) for “pedophilia propaganda,” while the second will impose a fine of 50,000–400,000 rubles (about $800–$6,500) for “propaganda of non-traditional relationships.”
Additionally, the amendments impose administrative penalties for the distribution of information about homosexuality or transgender people, which will carry a fine of 50,000–200,000 rubles ($800–$3,250).
The State Duma also noted that if the new laws are violated by foreigners or stateless people, they can legally be deported from Russia.
Introducing the bill, Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin cited an opinion poll that allegedly found that 16 percent of Europeans ages 14–19 consider themselves members of the LGBT community, as well as another poll he claims found that 45 percent of schoolchildren in the U.S. state of Maryland have not yet decided on their gender “due to the promotion of non-traditional relationships.”
