Gay Rights Groups Protest Moscow 'Anti-Gay Propaganda' Law

Gay rights activists protested at the Moscow City Duma Monday afternoon against a law banning "gay propaganda" among minors that could be imposed by the Moscow authorities.

The law penalizing "the propaganda of homosexuality and pedophilia among minors"came into force in St. Petersburg on March 17, to mixed reactions among Russians where anti-gay sentiment remains strong.

The US State Department expressed its concern about accepting the law that imposes fines of up to about USD 16,000 for individuals and up to USD 160,000 to organizations for the promotion of homosexuality.

"The idea itself is absurd and the wording of the law is vague," gay rights activist Gleb Napreenko said.

Earlier on Monday, deputies of the Moscow State Duma met with parent groups to discuss the draft law that would ban propaganda of homosexual, lesbian, bisexual and transgender practices among minors, RIA Novosti reported.

"We believe it is necessary to accept this law, to put barriers in the way of this propaganda. We are 10 years late with the adoption of the law that will ban propaganda of homosexuality, bisexuality or any other propaganda of sexual minorities," a board member of the nonprofit partnership in the security of family, childhood, personality and health Parent Committee Larisa Pavlova said.

According to her, a number of educational programs have already had basic elements of homosexual and lesbian propaganda.

At the same time, added Pavlova, there are cases when children take psychological tests where they have to answer questions about sexual orientation and a number of sexual acts.

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