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Russian Teacher Accused of 'Gay Propaganda'

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The prosecutor’s office in the Russian city of Lipetsk will investigate a complaint against an arts school teacher accused of “gay propaganda,” local news website Cod48.ru reported Wednesday.

Parents of a 12-year-old student at the school complained about a 19-year-old vocal teacher who “tried to talk their daughter into having relationships with women,” the report says. In conversation with the director of the school, the teacher admitted that she did talk to the student about the advantages of same-sex marriages.

The teacher herself is gay and is in a relationship with a woman, the Life.ru news site reported. She was open about her orientation when she applied for a job at the school, the report said.

The law banning “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations” among minors came into force in June 2013. Individuals found guilty of violating it can be fined up to 100,000 rubles ($1,667), while legal entities face a maximum penalty of 1 million rubles ($16,667). 

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