Russian Parliament Rejects Anti-Gay Bill
Gay.com
U.K., June 15, 2004
By Ben Townley, Gay.com U.K.
SUMMARY: A bill that grouped gay men with pedophiles
and alcoholics has been dropped in Russia, after opponents claimed it was
unconstitutional.
A bill that grouped gay men with pedophiles and
alcoholics has been dropped in Russia, after opponents claimed it was
unconstitutional.
The bill was intended to ban anyone with any
illnesses—whether physical or mental—from serving in the country’s Duma,
or parliament. It claimed that homosexuality should be included as a sickness.
“Chronic diseases and latent diseases undoubtedly
influence one’s capability to communicate and observe acceptable behavior
norms,” the bill said, according to the Moscow Times.
“They prevent [deputies] from making decisions for
their electorate.”
However, despite generating international publicity, the
Duma refused to give the bill a first reading on Friday, with some members
claiming it was unconstitutional and gave no presumption of innocence for
Russian citizens.
This is not the first time the country’s parliament has
considered some controversial anti-gay laws.
A bill looking to punish gay men with five years
imprisonment was overturned by the Duma in April. Homosexuality was
decriminalized after the fall of the Soviet Union, but was illegal during the
communist era.
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