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January 25, 2013

Russia to vote on gay gag as another region makes it law

Another million Russians banned from ‘promoting homosexuality’ as national anti-gay law comes back on agenda at the State Duma

Russia’s State Duma, or parliament, is set to debate and vote on a law against ‘gay propaganda’ at 5pm Moscow time today (25 January).

The debate comes as news breaks that Kaliningrad region, with a population of almost a million, passed a similar law yesterday (24 January).

It’s the 10th Russian region to pass the law which forbids ‘homosexual propaganda’ to minors which it links to pedophilia.

Similar legislation already exists in St Petersburg, Ryazan, Arkangelsk, Kostroma, Magadansk, Samar, Bashkortostan, Krasnodar and Novosibirsk.

January 25, 2013

Scuffles as Russian Duma votes for national gay gag law

State Duma backs fines for ‘promoting homosexuality’. But committee to review the bill has potential to remove anti-gay sting

Police have arrested at least 20 campaigners as Russia’s State Duma voted for a new law banning ‘homosexual propaganda’.

The proposed national law is similar to legislation already existing in nine Russian regions. Just yesterday Kaliningrad became the 10th region to introduce the ban, their bill just needs to be signed by the governor to become law.

January 22, 2013

Russia delays national gay gag law indefinitely

Russia State Duma again postpones debate on law to ban ‘gay propaganda’ to minors across the country

The Russian State Duma has postponed a nationwide ban on ‘gay propaganda’ indefinitely by returning the bill to the preparatory stage.

The legislation was originally due to be debated on 19 December last year but that was put off to today (22 January).

Since then, Russia has come under international pressure to drop the proposals.

January 22, 2013

Russia delays national gay gag law indefinitely

Russia State Duma again postpones debate on law to ban ‘gay propaganda’ to minors across the country

The Russian State Duma has postponed a nationwide ban on ‘gay propaganda’ indefinitely by returning the bill to the preparatory stage.

The legislation was originally due to be debated on 19 December last year but that was put off to today (22 January).

Since then, Russia has come under international pressure to drop the proposals.

December 18, 2012

Russia delays debate on anti-gay propaganda law

Russia’s State Duma will not discuss law banning ‘promotion of homosexuality’ to children until next year

Russia’s State Duma has postponed the first reading of a bill designed to fine people who ‘promote homosexuality’ to children.

The Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, was due to debate the law tomorrow (19 December). But it will now not be discussed until 22 January according to Russian International News Agency, RIA Novosti.

December 13, 2012

Europe slams Russia and Ukraine laws and says gay rights must be a ‘priority’

The European Parliament has told Russia and Ukraine to drop gay gag laws and said LGBT issues must be a foreign policy priority for the EU

The European Parliament has told Russia and Ukraine to ditch plans to fine and jail people who talk positively about gay issues.

The LGBT ‘gay laws’ already exist in nine regions of Russia but now the Duma parliament is planning countrywide legislation. Similar proposals are also being debated in Ukraine.

The laws are used to ban gay prides, silence gay organizations stop young people being given positive messages about being LGBT, and to crack down on dissidents.

December 11, 2012

Russia must reject ‘gay gag’ laws says Human Rights Watch

HRW calls on Duma to drop homophobic bill that would fine people for talking openly about LGBT issues

Russia’s parliament should reject a proposed bill banning gay ‘propaganda’, Human Rights Watch said today (11 December).

The Duma, the lower chamber of parliament, is scheduled to discuss plans to fine individuals, government officials and organizations that ‘promote’ homosexuality to anyone under 18.

December 8, 2012

Lady Gaga thanks Russian PM for not backing anti-gay law

Bisexual pop star expressed her gratitude to Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev for opposing anti-gay regional laws

Bisexual pop star Lady Gaga has expressed her ‘gratitude’ to Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev for opposing anti-gay regional laws in Russia.

On Saturday (8 December), the ‘Born This Way’ singer tweeted: ‘Prime Minister Medvedev please accept my gratitude I am looking forward to performing in RUSSIA & celebrating our cultures coming together.

‘Thank You Prime Minister Medvedev for not standing by your party's anti gay propaganda law & instead supporting my show+fans all over Russia.’

December 8, 2012

Lady Gaga thanks Russian PM for not backing anti-gay law

Bisexual pop star expressed her gratitude to Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev for opposing anti-gay regional laws

Bisexual pop star Lady Gaga has expressed her ‘gratitude’ to Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev for opposing anti-gay regional laws in Russia.

On Saturday (8 December), the ‘Born This Way’ singer tweeted: ‘Prime Minister Medvedev please accept my gratitude I am looking forward to performing in RUSSIA & celebrating our cultures coming together.

‘Thank You Prime Minister Medvedev for not standing by your party's anti gay propaganda law & instead supporting my show+fans all over Russia.’

December 7, 2012

PM Medvedev says Russia does not need a national gay gag law

Russia's former president tells journalists the country has no plans to pass an anti-gay propaganda bill on a federal level

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev says Russia does not need any law banning gay propaganda.

The former president added that his statement reflects his position and the position of the ruling United Russia party.

'Not every moral issue, behavioral habit or communication issue between people should be regulated,' Medvedev said in response to a question on banning homosexuality.

December 7, 2012

PM Medvedev says Russia does not need a national gay gag law

Russia's former president tells journalists the country has no plans to pass an anti-gay propaganda bill on a federal level

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev says Russia does not need any law banning gay propaganda.

The former president added that his statement reflects his position and the position of the ruling United Russia party.

'Not every moral issue, behavioral habit or communication issue between people should be regulated,' Medvedev said in response to a question on banning homosexuality.

September 13, 2012

Russia Prime Minister says pro-gay band Pussy Riot may soon be free

Punk rockers Pussy Riot, jailed after protesting Russian President Vladamir Putin, may be released says Dmitry Medvedev

Dmitry Medvedev the Russian Prime Minister has called for three members of the punk band Pussy Riot to be freed.

And he has indicated their release could be imminent since their case comes up for appeal on 1 October.

The band members were arrested for performing a raucous prayer inside Moscow's main cathedral asking the Virgin Mary to save Russia from Vladimir Putin as he headed into the election that handed him a third term as president.