LGBT 'propaganda' to be banned in Russia for adults and children

• Image Credit: Reuters

• Oct 27, 2022 | Poonam Nath

The disputed Russian ban on promoting so-called "homosexual propaganda" appears to be spreading to include all adults.

Digital Desk: On Thursday, Russian lawmakers approved a bill that would extend an existing ban on the promotion of "LGBT propaganda" among youngsters to involve people of all ages, a move that many perceive as an attempt to further intimidate and punish sexual minorities. 

Authorities have already utilised existing legislation to jail gay rights activists and halt gay pride marches. 

Any event or behaviour perceived to promote homosexuality - online, in cinema, in books, in advertising, or in public - might result in a large fine under the new measure, which was voted unanimously on its first reading by the lower house State Duma.

Lawmakers claim to be preserving morals in the face of "un-Russian" liberal ideas favoured by the West, while human rights organisations claim the initiatives are aimed at outlawing public portrayals of minorities such as lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgender individuals (LGBT). 

Citizens who promote "LGBT propaganda" might face fines of up to 400,000 roubles ($6,500) under the legislation. 

For note: ($1 = 61.4000 roubles)

Legal firms might face fines of up to 5 million roubles, while foreigners convicted of crimes could be deported from Russia.

The measure is a reshaping of an existing 2013 law that deems giving LGBT information to children a criminal offence.

Russia's Amalgamated Warfare: 

One of the bill's primary authors, MP Alexander Khinshtein, has disputed that it is an act of censorship. 

"We are not prohibiting mentions of LGBT as a phenomenon. We are prohibiting propaganda, and the phrase is critical "He stated this at a hearing last week. 

"LGBT today is a component of hybrid warfare, and we must safeguard our values, society, and children in this hybrid battle," he stated. 

According to the LGBT Network, which provides legal aid, the law is a "absurd" attempt to humiliate and discriminate against the LGBT community. 

"Lawmakers imply that the adult, capable populace is unable to choose what to say, watch, or read," it said.

This month, TikTok, a video-sharing app, was fined 3 million roubles for promoting "videos with LGBT themes," and Russia's media regulator instructed publishing firms to consider pulling all books featuring "LGBT propaganda" from sale.

Mr Putin speaking about families with "parent number one and parent number two" in a speech annexing four Ukrainian territory last month has been taken as a condemnation of same-sex families. 

Patriarch Kirill, the head of Russia's Orthodox Church, has also approved the new legislation. He has framed Russia's war in Ukraine as a conflict between supporters of pro-Western gay pride events and those who oppose them.