Putin signs off law banning Russians from changing gender in latest blow to LGBT+ community
Vladimir Putin has signed a new controversial legislation banning surgical gender reassignment in Russia in yet another blow to the country’s LGBT+ population. Crackdowns against the LGBT+ community and gender minorities in the country have only gathered pace ever since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year as the Russian president seeks popularity among citizens. The latest move by Mr Putin on Monday marks Russia’s final step in rendering gender-affirming procedures illegal and depriving its transgender population of their right to access gender-reassignment services. The bill, cleared unanimously by both houses of the Russian parliament and signed by Mr Putin, now bans any “medical interventions aimed at changing the sex of a person” along with changing one’s gender in official documents and public records. Under the bill, exceptions will only be made for a permissible list of medical interventions “related to the treatment of congenital physiological anomalies in children”. The list of these “anomalies in children” will be drawn up by the Kremlin. Couples who transitioned to their new genders after they adopted children will have their marriages annulled. The law thus bans them from becoming foster parents. The regressive legislation has stemmed from the Kremlin’s crusade to protect what it calls are the country’s “traditional values” and according to Russian lawmakers, it is meant as a safeguard against “Western anti-family ideology”. Some lawmakers have dubbed gender transitioning “pure satanism”. State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said the decision to pass the bill “will protect our citizens and our children” after it was set to undergo its third reading. The bill described gender reassignment as “the path leading to the degeneration of the nation”. The future remains bleak for Russia’s transgender population, which earlier had access to gender-reassignment surgeries and treatments like hormone replacement therapy. A transgender man in Russia, identified as Alexei, said he always had plans to change the gender label on his passport, but is now enduring “hell”. The 23-year-old told The Moscow Times that he is in panic, while stating that the process of his gender transition was already lagging as he was living on his own since he turned 18. He also told the newspaper that he did not have enough money, but will now have to start urgently. Russia ranked 46 out of 49 European nations in advocacy group Rainbow Europe’s annual LGBT+ rights rankings. The country’s politicians are “harming transgender and intersex people by continuing to deploy cynical ‘family values’,” according to Human Rights Watch. Read More Russian president signs legislation marking the final step outlawing gender-affirming procedures The upper house of Russian parliament approves a ban on gender changes Russian lawmakers pass a bill outlawing gender-affirming procedures to protect 'traditional values' Parents take on struggle for trans rights for their kids and others in conservative Poland Spain votes in general election that could see it become latest EU country to veer to the right
1970-01-01 08:00
Savers Value Village Wins Over Wall Street as Analysts See Growth Potential of Thrifting
Thrift shopping is hot and after a successful trading debut Wall Street analysts are telling investors to scoop
1970-01-01 08:00
United States vs Netherlands - Women's World Cup preview: TV channel, live stream, team news & prediction
The US women’s national team take on the Netherlands in their second group stage match of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, after kicking off the tournament with a 3-0 triumph over Vietnam.
1970-01-01 08:00
United States predicted lineup vs Netherlands - Women's World Cup
Here's the starting 11 we can expect from the US women's national team.
1970-01-01 08:00
Ilhan Omar supports woman jailed for taking abortion pill and burning foetus: ‘A violation of autonomy’
Ilhan Omar has spoken out in defence of a teenage girl who was jailed for 90 days after taking an abortion pill to end an unwanted pregnancy. The Democratic congresswoman posted an image on Instagram of an article titled: “Nebraska teen who used pills to end pregnancy gets 90 days in jail”. “This is a freighting violation of privacy and autonomy…” Ms Omar wrote. Celeste Burgess, 19, was sentenced last week after she and her mother Jessica Burgess, 42, pleaded guilty to charges earlier this year. Prosecutors said Celeste Burgess used abortion pills well beyond the 10-week limit approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Court records reveal that she terminated her pregnancy when she was nearly 30 weeks pregnant, surpassing the generally recognised point of viability at 23 to 24 weeks. At that stage, a foetus would have a higher chance of survival outside the womb. The mother and daughter were charged after their private Facebook messages were obtained by the police. These messages revealed their plans to end Celeste’s pregnancy by using abortion pills ordered online and then “burn the evidence”. The teenager was not charged by prosecutors under Nebraska’s abortion law. Prosecutors agreed to drop two charges of concealing a death and false reporting against her after she pleaded guilty in May to concealing human skeletal remains. Celeste was also sentenced to two years probation apart from her 90 days’ jail sentence. Joseph Smith, the top prosecutor in Madison County, Nebraska, said the sentence “seems reasonable” as the teenager has no criminal history. “It’s a painful case for everybody,” he said, adding that it was the first case of its type that he had prosecuted in his 33-years-long career “and I’m glad it’s over”. Jessica Burgess meanwhile faces up to five years in jail. The case has prompted widespread discusson, wth Ms Omar the latest to comment on the case. Her post had garnered more than 68,000 likes as of early Tuesday morning, with comments fom her supporters including that the case was “like the beginning of the Handmaid’s Tale”. Read More Teen who took abortion pill to end pregnancy given 90 days in jail Texas women detailed agonising pregnancies after being denied abortions. The state blames doctors After Roe v Wade fell, this father-daughter duo left Texas to go on providing abortions AOC and other progressives to boycott Israeli president’s joint address to Congress Israel's president will meet with Biden as concerns over settlements, judicial overhaul continue Thai Parliament postpones vote to select new prime minister pending court ruling
1970-01-01 08:00
L’Occitane Owner Said to Mull Buyout of $4 Billion Beauty Firm
L’Occitane International SA’s controlling shareholder is considering a move to take the skin-care company private, people with knowledge
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China Names Pan Gongsheng as New Central Bank Governor to Revive Economy
China named Pan Gongsheng as governor of the central bank, strengthening his position as head of the institution
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China Names Wang Yi New Foreign Minister to Replace Qin Gang
China’s Qin Gang has been removed from his post as foreign minister and replaced by his predecessor Wang
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3M Raises Outlook, Tops Estimates as Cost Cuts Gain Traction
3M Co.’s profit topped Wall Street estimates in the second quarter, driving a rise in the annual outlook,
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Caesars and PointsBet Promo Codes: $1,750 Bonus For ANY World Cup or MLB Game!
FanSided readers have exclusive access to a pair of fantastic promo codes from Caesars and PointsBet that'll net you up to $1,750 in bonuses for ANY World Cup or MLB game! It only takes a few minutes to claim each offer, too.See below how to access these bonuses and set yourself up for a MA...
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Roundup: Tori Kelly Rushed to Hospital; C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson Sign Contracts; Raiders Sign Marcus Peters
Tori Kelly rushed to the hospital, C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson signed rookie contracts, the Raiders signed Marcus Peters and more in the Roundup.
1970-01-01 08:00
UK CO2 Emissions Drop For The First Time in Two Years, ONS Says
UK greenhouse gas emissions dropped in the first quarter for the first time in two years, as the
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