The State Duma Unanimously Bans Gender Reassignment in Russia: Far-Reaching Consequences for Transgender People

The law still needs to be approved by the Federation Council, the upper house of parliament, and President Vladimir Putin to take effect, but no delays are expected.

“The State Duma has banned gender reassignment in Russia. The relevant changes in legal norms, proposed by the Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodins and deputies of all factions, were adopted unanimously in the final version,” the State Duma statement said.

It notes that the new law will have far-reaching consequences for transgender people in Russia. Citizens who have already changed gender will be prohibited from adopting children and their marriages will be annulled.

For years, Russia has been an unfriendly place for anyone who does not conform to the Kremlin’s strict view of “family values.” But since Russia’s repeated invasion of Ukraine, pressure on the LGBTQ community in Russia has increased and is often framed as an existential struggle against Western liberal values.

Putin has repeatedly railed against transgender rights in his speeches, and last fall Russia tightened its so-called “gay propaganda” law, effectively banning positive references to LGBTQ relationships.

2023-07-14 09:13:00
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