It’s happened. A Russian lawmaker introduced a bill in the lower house of the Duma that would deny LGBT parents the right to be parents. It adds sexual orientation to alcoholism, drug use, and abuse as reasons for taking away custody of children. The bill cites a widely discredited study of LGBT parents by University of Texas sociology professor Mark Regnerus as support for its position.
The Southern Poverty Law Center has further details. It seems unclear when or if the Duma would actually debate or vote on the bill. Let’s hope international pressure (of which we need more) and the threat of an Olympic boycott will keep it from moving further. Already, at least one lesbian mom is leaving the country for fear of losing her children; not all LGBT parents are fortunate enough to have that option, and not everyone will want to leave what is (for better or worse) their home.
(Note that I use the term “LGBT parents,” even though I don’t know if the exact text of the bill includes transgender parents or would include bisexual parents who were currently in a relationship with someone of a different gender. My guess is that if the bill passes, anyone who was or had been in a same-sex relationship, or who has a non-traditional gender expression, could become a victim.)
I can’t imagine what LGBT parents and their children in Russia must be feeling now. I get outraged enough when I think of the U.S. states that won’t let LGBT parents adopt, or that deny custody to an LGBT parent solely on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. But to institute a country-wide policy that could take children from parents under any circumstance goes beyond that. It’s nauseating.
President Obama plans to meet with LGBT activists in Russia during the G-20 summit today. Stay tuned.