Putin signs legislation banning transgender procedures

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed new legislation on Monday, marking the latest step in banning gender confirmation procedures, a devastating blow to Russia’s already embattled LGBTQ+ community.

The bill, which was unanimously approved by both houses of parliament, prohibits any medical interventions aimed at changing a person’s gender, as well as changing the gender in official documents and public records. The only exception will be medical intervention to treat congenital anomalies.

It also invalidates marriages in which a person has changed gender and prohibits transgender people from becoming foster or adoptive parents.

The ban is said to stem from the Kremlin’s crusade to protect what it sees as the country’s traditional values. Lawmakers say the legislation is to protect Russia from Western anti-family ideology, with some describing the gender transition as pure Satanism.

Russia’s crackdown on LGBTQ+ people began a decade ago, when Putin first proclaimed a focus on traditional family values, supported by the Russian Orthodox Church.

In 2013, the Kremlin adopted legislation banning any public endorsement of non-traditional sexual relations between minors. In 2020, Putin pushed through constitutional reform that banned same-sex marriage and last year signed a law banning the promotion of non-traditional sexual relationships between adults as well.