Russia: Middle school girl accused of spreading ‘gay propaganda’ placed under supervision

A middle school girl in the Bryansk region of Russia has become the first ever minor to be accused of breaking the country’s notorious anti-gay “propaganda” law.

According to a report by Znak.com, a ninth grade girl, aged 14-15, last November “openly declared herself to be a person of nontraditional sexual orientation,” the local minors’ commission said.

During this time, the commission said the girl “disseminated information aimed at forming a distorted picture among juveniles of the social equality of traditional and nontraditional sexual relations.”

However, authorities decided not to place criminal charges against her as she had not sexually assaulted anyone. Instead, she has been put under the supervision of the local juvenile commission.

The town’s location has not been revealed to protect the girl’s identity.

President Vladimir Putin signed the controversial law in June banning the promotion of “non-traditional relationships” toward minors, a move that has been criticised as part of a broader crackdown on Russia’s gay community.

Last month, a woman was charged under the country’s law for setting up a pro-LGBT page on social networking site Vkontakte.

• Dec 01 2023

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