Don't say "gay" - Russian version
A bill prohibiting "public activities, aimed at propaganda of sodomy, lesbianism, bisexualism and transgenderism to minors," and (in a separate article) "public activities, aimed at propaganda of pedophilia to minors" passed second reading at the Administrative Assembly of the city of St. Petersburg, Russia yesterday. If it passes third reading, it will become a law.
Coming Out' site:St. Petersburg, the heart of grassroots LGBT movement, is home of several strong LGBT organizations, including LGBT organization Coming Out, the Russian LGBT Network, and Side by Side LGBT film festival. Similar laws were already implemented in 2006 in Ryazan, in Arkhangelsk in September 2011 and in December of 2011 in Kostroma region. If passed in St. Petersburg, this measure could next be introduced in State Duma, the federal parliament. (Full text in English here).
The Independent: "Propaganda" is defined by the bill as "enticements, positive opinions and comments that promote non-traditional sexual and family relations to minors". The MP behind it said the legislation would target "themed" clubs for teenagers, and the spreading of information about homosexuality on social networks.
The law would ban the dissemination of information "which could cause damage to the health or moral and spiritual development of minors, including by inducing them to form warped perceptions that traditional and non-traditional married relations are equally socially acceptable". (The full is article here. The Russian original of the second paragraph of the quotation is here).
I'm afraid to even think what such a law's consequences would be for LGBT teenagers there. *sigh*
P.S. Anybody willing to join the All Out petition? Even if the only result is your moral support for those struggling against the bill, it will still mean something.