The Russian parliament has given initial approval to a proposed law that would ban nationals from countries that allow gender changes from adopting Russian children. The ban is seen as necessary to uphold what the government calls “traditional values.” This move comes after Russia implemented a ban on gender changes within its own borders last year as part of a broader crackdown on LGBTQ rights, which also includes outlawing “LGBT propaganda.” President Vladimir Putin is positioning Russia as a defender of traditional values in opposition to what he views as a morally decadent West.
The State Duma, Russia’s lower house of parliament, overwhelmingly voted in favor of the adoption ban in its first reading. The legislation is expected to become law, having already received conceptual approval from the government. Supporters of the ban argue that it is necessary to protect Russian children from potential harm if they are adopted by citizens of countries where gender reassignment is allowed.
Lawmakers have suggested that adoptees from Western countries could be at risk of being forced to undergo gender changes or being sexually exploited. This is part of a broader trend in Russia to limit foreign adoptions, as seen in the 2012 ban on adoptions by U.S. citizens and dwindling numbers of foreign adoptions in recent years. The legislation is part of Russia’s ongoing efforts to assert its conservative values and protect children from what it sees as harmful influences from the West.
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