October 21, 2013 | Sex & Society

Russia withdraws latest anti-gay bill ... for now

A Russian bill that would strip gay parents of their children has been delayed.

The bill would have designated gay parents a threat to their children, similar to alcoholics and child abusers. The legislation was supposed to be debated in February, 2014, the same time as the Sochi Winter Games.

The bill was introduced by far right MP Alexei Zhuravlyov. Gay rights activists believe he withdrew the bill under pressure from President Putin, who didn't want additional criticism about his country's 'gay propaganda' bill during the Olympics.

This is not the end of the proposal.

“It’s being recalled for revision — certain legal formulations will be clarified, and then after some points are removed, it will be brought to the State Duma again,” Sofia Cherepanova, Zhuravlyov’s spokesperson, promised. “We hope to pass the bill.”

Russia just won't be happy until it's the most homophobic country in the world.

The Law on termination of parental rights of homosexuals in the DG [RIA]

Russian parliament will debate taking children from same-sex parents [Raw Story]