Putin Signs "Gay Propaganda" Bill
The law will introduce fines of up to 5000 rubles ($150, €115) for individuals who promote information ‘directed at forming non-traditional sexual setup’ in minors. It will be illegal to say gay relationships are equal to straight ones. Gay rights campaigners say it will make homophobia legal and allow hate crimes nationwide. The fines will go up to 200,000 rubles ($6k, €5k) for officials, and organizations will be shut down for 90 days and fined up to one million rubles ($30k, €23k). Foreigners will not only be fined but arrested for 15 days and deported. It comes a day after around 60 people were arrested and attacked for simply attempting to hold a gay pride march in St Petersburg. Earlier this week, Putin denied the law was homophobic. Putin added the rights of LGBT people in Russia are not violated under the ‘gay propaganda’ law, saying he must think of the rights of children.
Labels: LGBT rights, religion, Russia, Vladimir Putin
