Russia’s State Duma adopts law banning ‘LGBT propaganda’

Russia’s State Duma (lower house of Parliament) has passed a bill banning “propaganda of non-traditional relations” and “propaganda of gender changes and paedophilia” in the third — final — reading. The decision was unanimous, the message on the State Duma website states. 

Propaganda will be prohibited both among minors and adults.

“This decision will protect our children, the future of the country, from the darkness disseminated by the US and European countries. We have our own traditions and values,” the State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin writes in a Telegram post.

The document proposes to ban propaganda of “non-traditional sexual relations”, paedophilia, and gender changes on the Internet as well as in media, books, movies, and commercials / advertisements. Additionally, according to the law, foreign citizens could be expelled from Russia for LGBT propaganda. 

The lawmakers propose 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 law 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.

Yesterday, 23 November, the State Duma rejected amendments that would introduce liability for featuring such content in video games during the second reading of the “LGBT propaganda” bill.