Moscow may become the next city to outlaw so-called homosexual propaganda, as the Moscow City Duma announced Thursday it will hold a roundtable discussion about creating a law similar to the one passed in St. Petersburg last month.
The decision to discuss the potential law was announced by the head of the legislature's health care committee, Lyudmila Stebenkova, who said discussions will begin Monday. Representatives from the legislatures of the Kostroma and Archangelsk regions, as well as the city of St. Petersburg will also attend the meeting. These localities already have anti-homosexual laws in effect.
Gay rights activists condemned the move.
"The Moscow City Council also decided to disgrace itself like its Petersburg colleagues," chairman of the Russian LGBT Network Igor Kochetkov told Interfax. He said the law is a "shame for the legislature which highlights its incompetence."
Under the? law that took effect in St. Petersburg in March, anyone found guilty of? promoting homosexuality among minors can be fined from? 5,000 ($170) to? 50,000 rubles, or up to? 500,000 rubles for? legal entities. The? law has been condemned by? domestic and? international human rights advocates and? gay activists, and? by Western governments.
The first arrests under the law were made in early April as demonstrators in one-man pickets held signs police said contained "propaganda of? a homosexual nature."
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.