Commentary by Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin
[ColonelCassad] The State Duma passed in the first reading a law banning LGBT propaganda.
The initiatives propose punishment for the promotion and justification of non-traditional sexual relations in the media, the Internet, literature and cinema. Their authors were Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin, leaders of all factions, as well as more than 300 deputies.
Deputies of the State Duma at the plenary session unanimously adopted in the first reading amendments to the legislation regarding the prohibition of propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations. Almost 400 deputies headed by the Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin and leaders of all factions acted as their authors.
Amendments are proposed to the federal laws “On Information, Information Technologies and Information Protection”, “On the Media”, “On the Protection of Children from Information Harmful to Their Health and Development”, “On Advertising” and “On State Support for Cinematography of the Russian Federation”. Corresponding amendments are also provided for in the Code of Administrative Offenses.
The document provides for a ban on propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations or preferences among Russian citizens, both adults and minors.
“You and I make a decision solely in the interests of our citizens, in the interests of our country,” said Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma, during the plenary session.
He cited data from opinion polls, according to which 16% of Europeans aged 14 to 29 identify themselves as LGBT. And in the US state of Maryland, the number of students who have not decided on their gender due to the promotion of non-traditional relationships has grown almost six times in two years and today makes up 45% of all students in the state.
Viacheslav Volodin stressed that Russia has a different path: “We have traditions, a conscience, an understanding that we need to think about children, families, the country, and preserve what our parents have passed on to us.”
“We must do everything to protect our children and those who want to live a normal life. Everything else is sin, sodomy, darkness, and our country is fighting this,” said the Chairman of the State Duma.
The bill expands the list of information prohibited for dissemination among children: propaganda and demonstration of non-traditional sexual relations and (or) preferences, as well as information that can make children want to change their sex. On paid resources, access to such information can only be obtained using a special code that confirms the user's age. Where it is technically impossible, the dissemination of such information will be completely prohibited.
The bill also expands the requirements for advertising, which should not contain information demonstrating non-traditional sexual relations or preferences. Films promoting non-traditional sexual relations will not receive a rental license. In addition, amendments to the Code are proposedon administrative offenses in terms of punishment for non-compliance with the ban.
So, for violation of the ban on propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations or preferences among people of any age, a fine of 50,000 to 400,000 rubles for citizens, from 100,000 to 800,000 for officials, from 800,000 to 5 million or suspension of activities up to 90 days for legal entities.
For violating the ban on propaganda of pedophilia, the fine will be from 200,000 to 800,000 rubles for citizens, from 400,000 to 2 million rubles for officials, from 1 to 10 million rubles or suspension of activities for up to 90 days for legal entities.
Also, for the dissemination of information among minors that demonstrates non-traditional sexual relations, or that can make them want to change their gender, the fine will be from 50 to 200 thousand rubles for citizens, from 100,000 to 400,000 thousand for officials, from 800,000 to 4 million rubles or suspension of activities up to 90 days for legal entities.
For such violations, foreign citizens and stateless persons will face expulsion from the Russian Federation.
Recall that earlier in the State Duma parliamentary hearings were held on legislative initiatives to ban information that promotes non-traditional sexual relations. Participants expressed their support for the proposed amendments.