Just when the rest of the world are strengthening LGTB rights and enforcing it on the legal level, the Duma, the Russian lower parliament, passed a law criminalizing telling kids about gay. That's right, if you tell people under 18 as much as that gays exist, you will be jailed, fined, and even deported. The law was passed through a unanimous vote of 436 - 0 in the parliament.
The bill's co-author, Yelena Mizulina, is head of the Duma's Committee for Family, Women, and Children. She says the idea is to protect Russian children from information that rejects "traditional family values."
"[The bill prohibits] the spreading of information aimed at forming nontraditional sexual attitudes among children," she said. "Secondly, [it prohibits] the imposition of information about nontraditional sexual relations that may cause interest among children."
The recent gay pride parade suffered a heavy and violent blow after people threw eggs and water at gay rights movement activists and participants of the parade.
Russia's lower house of parliament, the Duma, has passed a law imposing heavy fines for providing information about homosexuality to people under 18.
The measure was passed unanimously and will become law when approved by the upper house and President Vladimir Putin, a virtual formality.
Gay rights campaigners clashed with anti-gay activists outside the Duma.
The lower house also passed a bill imposing up to three years in jail on those who offend religious believers.
The law comes in the wake of the imprisoning of members of the punk band Pussy Riot for performing an anti-Putin protest in an Orthodox cathedral in February 2012.
Two band members, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina, are currently serving two-year jail terms.
The new law on "offending religious feelings of the faithful" will also take effect after approval by the upper house and the president. Street clashes
Violence between rival protesters spread onto Moscow's central street on Tuesday, reports the BBC's Steve Rosenberg in the capital. Pro-church protesters outside the Duma, Moscow, 11 June 2013 Orthodox believers demonstrated their support for the new law on religion
Gay rights campaigners were attacked and there were no police to stop the violence, says our correspondent. When one group ran into a shop to take refuge, their attackers waited and then ran in to find them.
Under the new law, private individuals promoting "homosexual behaviour among minors" face fines of up to 5,000 roubles (£100; $155) while officials risk paying 10 times that amount. Businesses and schools could be fined up to 500,000 roubles.
Homosexuality was decriminalised in Russia in 1993, but anti-gay sentiment is high.
A recent poll found that nearly half of Russians believe that the gay and lesbian community should not enjoy the same rights as other citizens.
Clearly in Russia gay teenagers are confused by learning about their sexual identity, the community around them and how to explore it safely and responsibly. Sexual repression will straighten them out in no time, if they don't understand their urges then they'll just disappear. If there is one thing gay children need its to be alienated...
On a related note, this law is really, really fucking retarded.
Well you guys have to understand how conservative Russia is to the extreme. It is just impossible that they would pursue this in the parliament, and at this degree. I have a fellow teacher tell me ones how when he went to a gay rights meeting, it had to be done underground!
There's been a fair few stories recently about this sort of attitude there. We had Section 28 in the UK before (repealed over 10 years ago now) but it wasn't as harsh as this (i.e. no fines or prison etc).
It is positive in one way though, it serves to show the world how Russia actually is and is a clear example of how backwards they are compared to modern societies just like the many Muslim and African countries who have similar attitudes towards gay people.
But obviously at the expense of the unfortunate people who will suffer, who I have nothing but sympathy for.
The stupidity of this law aside, how are they ever gonna uphold this law?
Let's say i live in Russia, and i explain what homosexuality is to my 10 year old son, because he heard the word in school...
1. What are they gonna do about it? If the teachers reported it, i could just say a stranger told him.
2. What are they gonna do about it, if my son starts to explain his fellow classmates and friends about it? Are they gonna fine a bunch of kids for something they don't understand at all, and will have no clue is even forbidden?(teachers can't mention homosexuality, so they won't know it's a crime).
436 to zero? Really? There's no voice of opposition to something this backwards in their legislature? That's actually quite shocking
This.
The Elites of Russia can do whatever they want in their country. Their last presidential election was such a joke. No one will condemn them for anything they do because they give gas to all of the countries of Europe.
On June 12 2013 19:42 Friedrich Nietzsche wrote: The recent gay pride parade suffered a heavy and violent blow after people threw eggs and water at gay rights movement activists and participants of the parade.
Got this from my feed this morning! This is beyond unbelievable!
Extremely disturbing. Russia has its share of problems but essentially condoning gay bashing is absurd. This sends a really bad message to the public and there is no way the bigots don't feel empowered.
On June 12 2013 19:51 KwarK wrote: Clearly in Russia gay teenagers are confused by learning about their sexual identity, the community around them and how to explore it safely and responsibly. Sexual repression will straighten them out in no time, if they don't understand their urges then they'll just disappear. If there is one thing gay children need its to be alienated...
Maybe give them a sound beating just be sure they gay is all out them. Or forced intercourse between gay men and women, with the rest of the gay class watching.
Really retarded. By the way, what is this law of "offending religious feelings of the faithful" that the article mentions? I have such shitty internet right now so it would probably take 5 minutes to google it, haha.
This is no surprise really, here in eastern Europe we've been raised under the impression that the homosexuality is a mental disorder and the word which everyone uses to describes the homosexuals with would be translated as ''the sickos''. Being raised in such an environment I of course support the law and I don't see how homosexuality could be accepted as normal or natural under any circumstances.
EPT
you let me down.![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/B5wkYTm.jpg)
