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Russian Communist Party Members Want to Make Coming Out Illegal

Russia's Communist Party wants to make coming out as gay a punishable offense, according to a copy of the proposal published Thursday on the State Duma's website.

The draft law, penned by Communist Party members Ivan Nikitchuk and Nikolai Arefyev, suggests a fine of up to 5,000 rubles ($78) for “the public expression of non-traditional sexual relations, consisting of a public demonstration of distorted sexual preference.”

The politicians also proposed a prison sentence of up to 15 days for coming out as gay in educational, cultural or youth institutions.

President Vladimir Putin in 2013 signed into law the so-called “gay propaganda” ban, making the distribution of information on homosexuality among minors an offense.

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