A leading official in the Russian Orthodox Church has urged federal lawmakers to adopt a bill outlawing what he called the promotion of homosexuality among minors.
Similar legislation approved late February in Russia's second-largest city, St. Petersburg, mandated fines of up to $33,000.
Father Dmitry Pershin, head of the church's youth council, said Monday in a statement that the law should be applied nationwide "without delay."
Gay-rights activists say the law could be used to ban any public demonstrations of support for gay rights.
(AP)
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