Russia Prepares Tougher Anti-Gay Law

Russian lawmakers called for the toughening of a strict anti-gay law. The Kremlin ordered expensive patriotic education projects as Moscow continues with a conservative drive at home while its troops fight in Ukraine.

The Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, held a consultation session on amendments to the 2013 law that bans exposing minors to so-called “gay propaganda.” According to The Hindu, the law would take it further by also banning the “denial of family values” and the “promotion of non-traditional sexual orientations” to all ages.

Alexander Khinstein, a senior lawmaker and the head of the Duma's information committee, said the Ukraine offensive had given the proposed law new relevance. “The special operation takes place not only on the battlefield, but also in the minds and souls of people,” Khinstein said.

Konstantin Malofeyev, a banker and conservative media baron, told the Duma hearing that passing the law is part of Russia's war effort. “The war is not only on the battlefield. It is also in the smart-phones of our children, in cartoons and films,” Malofeyev said. “Our enemy really holds the propaganda of sodomy as the core of its influence.”

The amendments are expected to be approved this autumn, according to Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, who said the law would "protect" Russians. “It is not to limit rights, but protect them from propaganda,” he said.

President Vladimir Putin ordered his government to assign 3.9 billion rubles (approximately $63 million) per year to patriotic education programs. According to the Kremlin, this should include “digital content and multimedia products aimed at the patriotic and spiritual education of children and youth.”

Since the Russian leader sent troops to Ukraine in late February, the government introduced a new subject in schools, “Conversations about what's important,” which is meant to instill patriotism.

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