Human rights groups condemn Russia legislation targeting transgender people News
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Human rights groups condemn Russia legislation targeting transgender people

Human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, released statements on Friday condemning Russia’s newly adopted bill that targets transgender people. The new legislation states that citizens who have already changed their sex will be prohibited from adopting children and their marriage will be annulled. It also prohibits surgery and hormonal therapy, as well as gender changes in documents.

Amnesty International’s Russia Director, Natalia Zviagina said that this recent legislation shows an “utter disregard” for the rights of transgender people in Russia. She further stated that the ban on gender affirming care will discriminate against transgender people’s right to healthcare and impact their mental health, and will “damage the Russian society for generations.”

Similarly, the Human Rights Watch LGBT rights director Graeme Reid stated that Russia was attacking sexual and gender minorities for political purposes and because of this, the bill needs to be dropped. Reid continued to stress the importance of inclusivity and protection of LGBT people in Russia and asserted that the first step towards this is to reverse the anti-trans law.

The Chairman of State Duma, the lower chamber of Russia’s legislature, Vyacheslav Volodin told state news that the bill protects Russian citizens and children. He cited the United States’ growing transgender population, calling it a “monstrous trend” that leads to a “degenerate” nation.

The new law is part of Russia’s intensifying crackdown of LGBT people, and went into force starting July 14.

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