Members of the Russian State Duma (lower house of parliament) have approved the first reading of the bill banning “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations”, the State Duma’s website reports.
The document proposes to ban the “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations or preferences” among Russians of all ages.
It also expands the list of content banned for children. It includes the “propaganda and demonstration of non-traditional sexual relations and/or preferences, as well as information that may cause children to want to change their gender”.
“On paid resources, access to this information can only be granted after users confirm their age using a special code. The spread of this information will be banned completely in cases where this is technically impossible to do,” the State Duma explained.
Films “propagating non-traditional sexual relations” will not be granted a distribution certificate. The same concerns ads.
A total of 390 lawmakers, including State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, are named among the authors of the bill.
“As for the second reading, there may be tougher amendments included,” Volodin said before the vote, quoted by RBC.
The lawmakers offer to fine individuals spreading “LGBT propaganda” to the tune of up to 400,000 rubles (€6,500). Government officials face fines of up to 800,000 rubles (€13,000), while legal entities may be hit with a fine of up to 5 mln rubles (€81,260)
The bill also introduces fines for those who spread “information of non-traditional sexual relations or information that may cause children to want to change their gender”: up to 200,000 rubles (€3,250) for individuals, up to 400,000 (€6,500) for officials, and up to 4 mln (€65,000) for legal entities.