MOSCOW - Russian police detained 20 people on Friday when gay activists tried to stage a "kiss-in" outside parliament to protest against a draft law banning the promotion of homosexuality among minors.
Police hauled away the protesters shortly before the lower
house, the State Duma, was due to hold the first of three
readings of the legislation, witnesses said.
Supporters of the law, some of them identifying themselves
as Russian Orthodox Christians, cheered as the police stepped in
and threw eggs at the protesters. Police confirmed that 20
people had been detained.
If approved by the two houses of parliament, and signed by
President Vladimir Putin, the law would ban the promotion of gay
events across Russia and impose fines on the organisers.
Putin’s critics say it is the latest in a series of moves to
appeal to conservative voters and consolidate support for him
since his return to the presidency last May after a wave of
protests against him in cities such as Moscow and St Petersburg.
Gay rights activists and human rights campaigners say the
main aim of the law is not to protect children but to curb the
rights of homosexuals.
“Animosity towards gays and lesbians is widespread in
society, and the Duma, which has approved a number of unpopular
laws, hopes it can win some popularity with an anti-gay law,”
veteran rights campaigner Lyudmila Alexeyeva told Reuters.
Supporters of the law say it is needed to prevent gay
parades and television and radio programmes that support gay
couples, describing this as homosexual propaganda which affects
the development of children in Russia.
