Report: Russian Lawmaker Proposes Taking Children From Gay Parents

[William769]

Gay parents in Russia would lose custody of their children under a law proposed by a deputy from the ruling United Russia party, the Associated Press reports.

Activists had feared the so-called "gay propaganda" law in Russia could lead to this next step, with U.S. actor and producer Harvey Fierstein sure to mention it as among worst-case scenarios in his New York Times op-ed and during an interview on MSNBC in August. The existing law already bans any talk about homosexuality in front of minors.

Now State Duma Deputy Alexei Zhuravlev is proposing that like drug use, or child abuse, "nontraditional sexual orientation" would be grounds for parents losing their children. The AP reports that Zhuravlev argues "propaganda" is wrong in public and wrong "in the family."

Fierstein had told MSNBC's Chris Hayes that this plan to remove children from their gay parents "was only rumored… but hopefully the spotlight we are putting on now has stopped that law." But the AP reports the draft bill was posted to Parliament's website on Thursday.

http://www.advocate.com/news/world-news/2013/09/05/report-russian-lawmaker-proposes-taking-children-gay-parents

[William769]

1. Kicking.

[Behind the Aegis]

2. "50 Children"

A documentary on a couple who led children out of Nazi Germany to protect them. Worth the viewing.

What do you think the Russian version will be called?

[Behind the Aegis]

3. Really?!

A proposal to take children away from their parents and nothing?!

[JI7]

4. how did it come to this ?

[LAGC]

8. The Russian Orthodox Church. How else?

They've been running roughshod over Russian politics ever since the fall of Communism.

Not that I think we need to go back to those dark days to reign them in, but Russia definitely needs more secular voices in government, that's for sure.

[JI7]

5. so being gay is illegal in russia ?

[Cerridwen]

6. The same happens in the US.

Family court judges have taken children from a custodial parent because the non-custodial parent was able to present circumstantial or factual evidence that the custodial parent is gay.

It doesn't have to be illegal. It only requires a rather twisted, though "accurate" view of the law as written and a judge who isn't near to objective. Much the same has happened (continues to happen) with regard to housing, jobs, and benefits.

It doesn't have to be declared officially, "illegal."

russia is going over the top and obvious. US courts tend to be more subtle...nowadays.

[Behind the Aegis]

7. Pretty much.

Technically it isn't, but they are getting damn close.