Russia's assault on 'homosexual propaganda'

ELIZABETH JACKSON: A new law targeting so-called homosexual propaganda is sending a chill through the gay and lesbian community in Russia's second largest city, St Petersburg.

The law makes it a crime to spread what it terms propaganda about gay and lesbian lifestyles to minors.

The uproar over the legislation has even spurred condemnation from pop star Madonna, who's vowed to denounce it during a planned concert in the city later this year.

But a number of other regions have passed similar legislation, and there's speculation that Russia's parliament might pass a national version.

From St Petersburg, here's our Russia correspondent, Norman Hermant.

(sound of child speaking in Russian)

NORMAN HERMANT: In a St Petersburg apartment, filled with Lego and drawings on the walls, 6-year-old Simyon plays happily, oblivious to the anxiety being felt by his two mothers.

Russia's second largest city has just passed what it calls a homosexual propaganda law.

It makes it a crime to spread so-called homosexual propaganda to children.

And for Ksenia it means she fears it may now be illegal to even talk about this family to her own son.

KSENIA: I understand this law. I can't say anything about me to my kid or to other kids, so, it just states that I'm illegal, in everything; that's all

NORMAN HERMANT: On a daily basis, do you worry about how the law could be applied and how it could affect families like yours?

KSENIA: Yes I'm really worried, because we have a kid and this law is connected with propaganda to kids.

NORMAN HERMANT: The laws forbids in any way showing minors under the age of 18 that same sex relationships are socially equal to traditional heterosexual ones.

But as Ksenia's partner Sasha explains, there are few details beyond that.

NORMAN HERMANT (to Sasha): Do you even know what possibly would violate this law; if you go out with your child? Let's say you go to a park, and there are other heterosexual couples there, are you violating the law? Is that clear?

SASHA: We do not really know whether they're going to consider that propaganda or not. It puts us into a very unstable position, where we do not really know what is legal and what is illegal and where we should talk and where we should keep silent.

NORMAN HERMANT: Those behind the legislation say the fears over its application are exaggerated.

In no way will the law discriminate against the gay and lesbian community, they say. It's designed only to protect children from images and impressions that imply a gay or lesbian lifestyle is normal.

Vitaly Milonov is the St Petersburg deputy who helped draft the law against homosexual propaganda.

VITALY MILONOV: We can see that a number of people who like to name themselves as homosexuals, they are increasing. And many of the kids, they can look at pop stars, or TV guys, and these guys they're proclaiming that their homosexuality is like a sign of God, or a sign of deep talent.

NORMAN HERMANT: For deputies, like Mr Milonov, a deeply religious Russian Orthodox Christian, the growth in the number of Russians living an openly gay lifestyle is disturbing.

He points out that opinion polls suggest upwards of 80 per cent of Russians approve of laws like this one.

VITALY MILONOV: We think that the Russian people who are homosexual by their nature, and you cannot turn this individual in a civil way not to be homosexual, only with the help of the church his person can cancel this.

According to a Russian point of view, most of the people who think they are homosexuals, they are not homosexuals by their nature, they don't have this defect that is knows as homosexual, homosexual defect in genes. They are homosexuals because of their point of view.

NORMAN HERMANT: For now, those convicted of spreading homosexual propaganda to children face fines, from about $160 for an individual, up to $16,000 for groups.

But the gay and lesbian community here fears this could be just the beginning.

Three other Russian regions have already adopted similar legislation.

And there's speculation the Russian parliament may pass a national version, enshrining in law that gay and lesbian relationships are not equal in Russia.

This is Norman Hermant in St. Petersburg for Correspondents Report.
http://www.abc.net.au/correspondents/content/2012/s3468135.htm

It's designed only to protect children from images and impressions that imply a gay or lesbian lifestyle is normal.