Russia’s ‘abominable’ new legislation against transgender people will inflict ‘unbearable suffering’

The State Duma (the lower chamber of the Russian parliament) has adopted a package of amendments to the Family Code and several federal laws aimed at imposing a ban on legal gender recognition and gender-affirmative interventions.

The new legislation will not only prevent people from changing gender markers in official documents but also includes a ban on gender affirming surgery and hormone replacement therapy, with surgeries aimed at treating “congenital anomalies (malformations), genetic and endocrine diseases associated with impaired formation of the genital organs in children” being the only exceptions. These remaining surgical options will require approval from state medical commissions before a change in gender markers can be made in official documents.

In response to the news, Natalia Zviagina, Amnesty International’s Russia Director, said: “The adoption of this abominable transphobic legislation shows an utter disregard for the human rights of transgender people in Russian society.

“This legislation will inflict unbearable suffering on thousands of Russian citizens, deprive them of access to essential healthcare services and put their mental health at grave risk. The law effectively discriminates against transgender people and makes them second class citizens.

“The Russian authorities should reconsider immediately this harmful legislation – which will damage Russian society for generations – and take steps to protect the human rights of all individuals, regardless of their gender identity.”