> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# New Russian law to illegalise gender change
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/new-russian-law-to-illegalise-gender-change/
- Published: 2020-09-12T10:45:44.000Z
- Updated: 2020-09-12T06:46:53.000Z
- Description: A new law has been proposed in Russia that would prevent transgender citizens from legally changing their gender to align with their gender identity.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: News, Politics, LGBTQ, Putin, Russia, Trans Rights, Transgender

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/russia-lgbt-arrests-600-400.jpg)

A new law has been proposed in **Russia** that would prevent transgender citizens from legally changing their gender to align with their gender identity – a similar law already exists in **Hungary**. The bill has been suggested by politician **Yelena Mizulina**; known for taking a leading role in the creation of anti-LGBTQ+ laws with support from Russian president **Vladmir Putin**. Queer people are often [persecuted](https://www.them.us/story/russia-prosecuted-gay-teenager-propaganda-ban?ref=scenemag.co.uk) under Mizulina and Putin’s laws that ban ‘gay propaganda’, thus criminalising LGBTQ+ activism and even dressing in a manner that authorities consider to suggest one is LGBTQ+.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/putin-rainbow-600-400.jpg)

Trans Russian citizens already have restricted rights such as being banned from driving. There are no legal protections from LGBTQ+ discrimination and over half of Russian’s[ reported](https://www.equaldex.com/region/russia?ref=scenemag.co.uk) they would not want an LGBTQ+ neighbour. There were [reports](https://gaytimes.co.uk/life/violent-anti-lgbtq-activists-in-russia-plan-to-spread-across-europe/?ref=scenemag.co.uk) in 2019 of a violent anti-LGBTQ+ group, Knife International, that pledged to ‘purge’ Russia of queer people. Members are [thought](https://cd-gaytimes.j.layershift.co.uk/life/russian-lgbtq-activist-murdered-after-being-listed-on-gay-hunt-website/?ref=scenemag.co.uk) to be responsible for the murder of LGBTQ+ activist **Yelena Grigoryeva** after the group’s website (which has since been taken down) encouraged users to ‘hunt down’ activists.

The new legislation marks another setback for Russia’s LGBTQ+ community. **St. Petersburg** (North Russia) based trans activist **Yekaterina Messorosh** condemned the potential law, telling [**The Moscow Times**](https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2020/09/03/a-new-russian-law-could-ban-trans-people-from-officially-changing-their-gender-a71217?ref=scenemag.co.uk) it aims to make trans people ‘second class citizens’. It has also been [referred](https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/09/07/russia-law-transgender-yelena-mizulinam-family-code-transphobia-human-rights-watch/?ref=scenemag.co.uk) to as having ‘terrifying’ implications for Russia’s LGBTQ+ community.

Later this month the Russian parliament will decide if the new law is to become official.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/trans-rights-600-400.jpg)