(Reuters) – Elle Solomina, a 36-year-old IT worker, found the courage to change her gender to female in her official Russian identification documents back in 2021. Now, she faces the devastating news that Russia is planning to ban gender changes in IDs and gender-affirming medical care, including surgery. Describing this potential law as a “fascist law,” Solomina expressed her concern about living in a totalitarian system that instills fear in its population. She fled to the Georgian capital of Tbilisi after Russia invaded Ukraine last year.
In the ongoing crackdown on LGBTQ rights, Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, is determined to portray these restrictions as proof of moral decay in Western countries. This latest draft legislation, which received initial support from the lower house of parliament, is part of this wider crackdown. Transgender advocates have expressed alarm and highlighted the dangers to psychological and physical health, as well as the long-term issues posed by a potential illicit hormone drug market.
Russian state news agencies have reported that the bill will undergo a second reading on Thursday. However, for a bill to become law, it requires three readings, approval by the upper house of parliament, and the president’s signature.
LGBT rights group Vykhod (“Coming Out”) has seen a significant increase in requests for support sessions since news of the ban emerged. Nef Cellarius, the program coordinator, shared that they typically received a dozen requests in a month but saw that number rise to 45 in June when news of the law broke. Cellarius revealed the distressing content of the letters received, with desperate pleas from transgender individuals who are scared.
The ban on gender changes has been in the works for over a decade, according to advocates. In December of last year, Putin signed a law that expanded restrictions on the promotion of “LGBT propaganda,” effectively outlawing any public expression of LGBTQ lifestyles. This legislation, along with previous laws, has created a culture of fear among LGBTQ Russians, making it difficult for them to lead lives the Kremlin deems as “non-traditional.”
The language used in this draft law is broad, leading many observers to believe that hormone therapies could also be outlawed. This has caused panic among transgender men like Richard Volkov, a 26-year-old musician from Moscow. He shared his worries about violating the law by merely acknowledging his existence. Volkov has since moved to Sarajevo after the war began.
Russia has allowed gender changes on identification documents since 1997, four years after decriminalizing homosexuality. The exact number of transgender people in Russia is unknown, but it is estimated to be around 0.5% of the adult population in other countries.
Last year, the health ministry reported that 996 people applied to change their gender on their passports in Russia, with even fewer undergoing surgery. Doctors who perform these procedures warn that the ban could create a black market for substitute hormones, further endangering patient health.
Dr. Andrei Istranov, a plastic surgeon who treats transgender patients, highlighted the potential psychological suffering that patients will experience and the likelihood of self-medication if the ban is implemented. Despite the challenges, LGBT rights group Vykhod remains committed to fighting against the law and supporting transgender individuals who choose to stay in Russia.
Disclaimer: This article was written by Reuters and edited by Nick Macfie.
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