Russia’s lawmakers on Friday passed a bill which outlaws transgender medical procedures in a bid to protect the country’s “traditional values.”
The bill, which was unanimously passed in its third and final reading in the lower house of parliament, the State Duma, now heads to the Federation Council, Russia’s upper chamber, which must also pass the legislation before sending it to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s desk.
The unanimous support the bill received in the lower chamber indicates that it is likely to become law.
The bill outlaws any “medical interventions aimed at changing the sex of a person,” but exempts medical interventions to treat congential anomalies.
The legislation also bans Russian citizens from changing their gender in official documents and public records.
Russian lawmakers have characterized the bill as protecting Russia from “the Western anti-family ideology.”
In its second reading on Thursday, lawmakers adopted amendments to annul marriages in which one person has “changed gender” and prohibit transgender people from becoming foster or adoptive parents.
Putin has previously signed legislation which bans “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations” enacted in 2013 and expanded last year.
“Do we really want to have here, in our country, in Russia, ‘Parent No. 1, No. 2, No. 3’ instead of ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad?'” Putin asked at a political ceremony in September 2022, at a political ceremony during which Russia formally annexed regions of Ukraine.
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
