This Is Just Sickening

Anti-Gay Advocates Pack Public Hearing On Russia’s ‘Gay Propaganda’ Bill, Claim Gays Need Forced Treatment

The St. Petersburg parliament in Russia held public hearings about the so-called anti-gay propaganda bill today, that supporters claim would ban “propaganda of sodomy, lesbianism, bisexualism and transgenderism” to minors. The measure has already passed two readings and is expected to received a third and final vote on February 29th. Governor Georgiy Poltavchenko will have 10 days to sign the bill.

Anti-gay proponents packed the hearing in their favor, Russian LGBT groups report, as organizers publicized the event only yesterday, and filled the audience with clerical and Russian nationalist organizations. The groups distributed flyers on the “Statistics on homosexuality,” which said that “homosexuals spread infections”, “homosexuals lead perverted lives,” and “homosexuals commit many crimes.” Experts also testified to the “perverse and sinful nature of homosexuality, calling for forced treatment or isolation of gays” and the audience responded with “insults and calling gay people perverts, faggots, and subhuman.”

The measure would fine groups or individuals who promote homosexuality, pedophilia, or transgenderism to minors. The updated version includes fines that are 10 times higher than when the bill was first brought before the city’s legislature in November.

The anti-gay legislation has been condemned by the international community and is in violation of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the European Convention for Human Rights, the Council of Europe Recommendations and other decrees. Lawmakers in Moscow are said to be considering similar bans.