On Wednesday, Russia’s upper house of parliament passed two laws with significant implications. Firstly, the new legislation will restrict the representation and visibility of LGBTQ+ individuals in media.
Secondly, it will prohibit citizens from adopting Russian children if they come from countries that allow gender transitioning. These laws mark a concerning development in Russia’s stance towards LGBTQ+ rights and adoption practices.
The Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation will undergo an amendment with the first law, specifically Article 6.21. This amendment will introduce a prohibition on the promotion of non-traditional sexual relations and/or preferences, as well as gender reassignment.
Although the Constitution of Russia ensures freedom of speech and press in Article 29(1), the amendment will also impact Federal Law No. 149 by adding restrictions on the promotion of not having children. These restrictions will apply to online platforms, media outlets, and advertising.
Violators of the law will be subject to fines, with individuals facing fines of up to 400,000 rubles, officials up to 800,000 rubles, and legal entities up to 5 million rubles. Foreigners will also be subject to similar penalties as Russian citizens, but they may also face deportation or up to 15 days of imprisonment.
The law restricting the adoption of Russian children will effectively limit the adoption to approximately twelve countries that prohibit gender transitioning.
The approval of these laws signifies an ongoing suppression of LGBTQ+ rights. In the past, the Russian Supreme Court deemed the LGBTQ+ movement as “extremist,” and Russia has also implemented a ban on gender affirming surgery starting in 2023.
The laws will become effective ten days after they are officially published.
Russia is currently grappling with a low birth rate and an aging population, and the situation has been compounded by the invasion of Ukraine. To address these challenges, the government has implemented measures aimed at boosting the country’s birth rate and limiting the cultural impact of the West.