Russia Considers National Gay Ban

The Russian Parliament is considering a national version of the "don't say gay" bill that became law last month in St. Petersburg.

The bill calls for fines of up to 500,000 rubles ($16,500) for “spreading homosexual propaganda” among minors. The legislation was submitted Thursday to the State Duma by lawmakers from the central Novosibirsk region who blamed media for promoting gay lifestyles as “normal behavior.” The bill is similar to legislation adopted in February in St. Petersburg, Russia’s second largest city. Gay rights activists say the legislation could be used to ban public demonstrations.

Backing the proposed national ban is the Russian Orthodox Church. Homosexuality was decriminalized in Russia in 1993.