Statement: Senator Bacik criticises Russian 'Gay Propaganda' Law

STATEMENT BY SENATOR IVANA BACIK

Labour Senator for Dublin University
Tuesday 18th June 2013

Speaking in the Seanad, Senator Ivana Bacik today strongly criticised the passage of a federal Bill by the Lower House of Parliament in Russia which seeks to prohibit LGBT activism in the country and to criminalise the positive depiction of the lives of gay people. The so-called gay 'propaganda' law was passed just last week and has been widely criticised for enshrining homophobia in legislation.

Senator Bacik said:

"I am very concerned at the introduction of this law. It is likely to encourage and facilitate homophobia, and may lead to active discrimination by the Russian state against gay people. Important work to combat homophobia that is now being done by LGBT activists and organisations in Russia is likely to be driven underground. The Russian authorities should instead be looking at ways of improving the lives of gay citizens, especially against a dark backdrop of increasing homophobic violence and intimidation. I will continue to raise my concerns around this deeply troubling development. As we make progress towards full equality for members of the LGBT community in Ireland, it is more important than ever that we support victims of homophobic persecution in other countries."

ENDS