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Moscow Authorities Now Propose Anti Gay Bill
 ILGA-Europe condemns St. Petersburg measure

MOSCOW, November 17, 2011  –  The authorities in Moscow are now proposing to introduce a Bill that will outlaw the “promotion of homosexuality”, it emerged this afternoon.

The move comes less than 48 hours after the legislature in Russia’s ‘second city’, St. Petersburg, passed the first of three readings by a 27-1 (with one abstention) margin of their measure, ‘The Promotion of Homosexuality, Lesbianism, and Transgenderism to Minors.

The Moscow authorities are already preparing a ban on the promotion of homosexuality, the newspaper Gazeta is reporting.

"Yes, we plan to adoption of this law in Moscow and now [are] just working on its development,” chairman of the Moscow City Council Committee on Health Care and Public Health, Lyudmila Stebenkova told the newspaper, adding that the committee “commends the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg”.

Anton Paleeva, who chairs the committee for public associations and religious organizations in the Moscow City Duma, said that the proposed law in Moscow “will help everyone”.

“Such propaganda should be stopped,” he told Gazeta.

According to Ekho Moskvy, the Speaker of the Moscow City Duma, Vladimir Platonov, says that the capital was ready to follow the example of St. Petersburg.

The Ryazan region was the first to introduce an ‘any-gay’ law, with Arkhangelsk having a similar measure in place before St. Petersburg started its process.

Speaking last night about the proposed legislation in St. Petersburg, LGBT activist Elena Kostyuchenko, who is a journalist at Novaya Gazeta, a separate and more liberal publication, said it “could cripple the LGBT movement” in St. Petersburg.

Ms. Kostyuchenko, who publicly ‘came out’ days before Moscow Pride in May, was hospitalised with serious injuries during the Pride.

In Brussels, ILGA-Europe has condemned the bill passing through the St. Peterburg legislature.

The NGO said in a statement that it was “deeply concerned” about the proposal.

“Such legislation would constitute a clear violation of the country’s international obligations to uphold freedom of expression and fight discrimination,” the statement said.

“ILGA-Europe is also disturbed by the fact that the draft legislation puts homosexuality, bisexuality and transgender identities on the same footing as paedophilia which is criminally punishable.

The NGO also drew attention to Recommendation CM/Rec(2010)5 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to Member States on measures to combat discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity.

The Recommendation states that “Member states should take appropriate measures to ensure, in accordance with Article 11 of the Convention, that the right to freedom of association can be effectively enjoyed without discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity; in particular, discriminatory administrative procedures, including excessive formalities for the registration and practical functioning of associations, should be prevented and removed; measures should also be taken to prevent the abuse of legal and administrative provisions, such as those related to restrictions based on public health, public morality and public order.”

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