A bill that forbids gay people or people in favor of gay rights or in gay pride activities won overwhelming approval Tuesday in Russia's lower house of parliament. As a result hours before the State Duma passed the Kremlin-backed law more than two dozen protesters were attacked by hundreds of anti-gay activists and then detained by police. Watch the video below.
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The law has not yet been passed by Russia's upper house of parliament or signed by Putin, but both are expected to approve the measure. If enacted, it would ban the spread of "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations," or any relations "not conducive to procreation," to anyone under age 18.
The law would undoubtedly affect gay-pride events and whether they could be held, but may also change Russian television: Some Communist leaders cite Elton John's clothing choices "gay propaganda," and have claimed that Madonna promotes homosexuality in her concerts.
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The Christian Science Monitor reports Lyudmila Alexeyeva, one of Russia's oldest and most prominent rights activists, called the law "a step toward the Middle Ages."
"In normal countries, no one persecutes representatives of sexual minorities," Alexeyeva told the Interfax news agency. "A modern person knows that these people are different from the rest just like a brunette is different from a blonde. They are not guilty of anything."
Russian officials have rejected the criticism Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov defended the bill in February, saying that Russia doesn't have any international or European commitment to "allow the propaganda of homosexuality."
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Homosexuality was decriminalized in Russia in 1993, and gay Russians will not face legal action based on sexuality alone. Anti-gay sentiment in Russia is high, though, and goes as far as keeping Russian orphans from being adopted by same-sex parents in countries where gay marriage is legal.
The bill will fine individuals up to $156 (5,000 rubles) and fine companies, including media outlets, up to $31,000 (1 million rubles.) Even foreigners are not safe; citizens helping to organize gay pride events can be deported or jailed for up to 15 days and then deported.
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