24 Jan. 2013
Kaliningrad oblast has joined other Russian regions in which the so-called "homopropaganda" ban was enacted by law. At first, deputies considered that law for minors "protection". But then, on the session of the local parliament today, it was decided to expand the force of that law on everyone. Any form of "homopropaganda" in this region is to be banned since the middle of February when the law will be signed by Nikolay Tsukanov, the Governor of Kaliningrad region.
"Public actions aimed at propaganda of sodomy, lesbianism, bisexuality ... mean an activity on purposeful and uncontrolled spreading in public of information that might harm health, morals and spiritual development of citizens, as well as to form in them a distorted understanding of social equivalence of traditional and non-traditional matrimonial ties" (passage of the Law of Kalinigrad Region).
Local citizens and visitors of Kalinigrad region that "propagandize" homosexuality will be fined by 4000-5000 rubles ($133-166 or ˆ100-123). Entities will have to pay fine of 200-300 thousand rubles ($6650-10000 or ˆ5000-7400).
Solomon Ginzburg, a 53 year old deputy was the only one fair and contrite man among homophobes in the local parliament who openly and fiercely opposed that inhumane law. He was a member of the "Union of the Right Forces" (Soyuz Pravyh Sil) in the past, since 2012 participates in "Civil platform" (Grazhdanskaya platforma).
All other deputies welcomed this law. Someone recalled the criminal punishment of the Soviet era and stated that the LGBT people - "perverts" - should have thanked the parliament for such a smooth novella. Others said that homosexuality was an illness and society must be protected from it.
Thus, the Kalinigrad region's parliament have adopted the law "On protection of the population of Kalinigrad region from information that harms morals and spiritual development" and laws that amended the Regional Code on administrative offenses and imposed fines for "homopropaganda".
The author of this anti-gay law is Oleg Bolychev from the United Russia party. Today he said that the mass media were the main violators of that law.
Please note that tomorrow the State Duma will read in its first reading the similar ban on the federal level.
English translation presented by Yerdna Bananes