Russia's upper house of parliament has passed a bill that prohibits the adoption of Russian children by citizens of countries where gender transitioning is legal. This decision follows the approval of similar bills by the lower house and is now awaiting President Vladimir Putin's signature to become law.
In addition to the adoption ban, lawmakers also endorsed legislation that prohibits the dissemination of material promoting childlessness. The rationale behind these bills is to safeguard adopted children from potential risks associated with gender reassignment in countries where it is permitted.
The adoption ban would impact citizens from at least 15 countries, primarily in Europe, as well as Australia, Argentina, and Canada. Notably, the adoption of Russian children by U.S. citizens has been prohibited since 2012.
Furthermore, the newly approved bills target what is described as propaganda advocating for remaining child-free. Violators could face fines of up to 5 million rubles (approximately $50,000). Proponents of the legislation argue that discouraging childbirth is part of a broader Western agenda to weaken Russia by contributing to population decline.
Russian authorities, including President Putin, have increasingly emphasized the importance of upholding traditional values as a counterbalance to Western liberalism. In recent years, Putin has actively promoted the idea of large families and even encouraged women to have as many as eight children to address the country's declining population.
Notably, Russia has taken a firm stance against LGBTQ+ rights, with a ban on gender-transition medical procedures implemented last year. The country's Supreme Court has also labeled the LGBTQ+ 'movement' as extremist. In a further crackdown, a law was signed in 2022 that prohibits the distribution of LGBTQ+ information to individuals of all ages, expanding on a previous ban from 2013 that targeted minors.
