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ARMENIA WITHDRAWS PROPOSED ANTI-LGBT PROPAGANDA LAW
Human Rights Campaign Backstory
Aug 9 2013
August 9, 2013 by Maureen McCarty, Online Content and Marketing Manager
The Armenian Police Department has withdrawn a proposed anti-LGBT
amendment, similar to the heinous "propaganda" law recently passed
in Russia.
The proposed amendment sought to fine individuals, legal entities
and officials up to $4,000 dollars for any public promotion of
"non-traditional sexual relationships." In essence, the amendment
would criminalize same-sex relationships in a country where the LGBT
community already face rampant discrimination and little to no legal
protection.
Police claimed the bill was necessary in order to protect "the model
of traditional Armenian family" against "phenomena alien to national
Armenian mentality," according to the Armenian news site Azatutyun.com.
Russia's own recently enacted anti-LGBT law criminalizing the most
modest gestures of support for LGBT individuals has brought concern
worldwide for not only the Olympic athletes and travellers, but also
the countless LGBT Russians who will continue to endure the law long
after the last medal is won.
Under the guise of protecting children from "homosexual propaganda,"
the law imposes fines or jail time to citizens who disseminate
information that may cause a "distorted understanding" that LGBT and
heterosexual relationships are "socially equivalent."
http://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/armenia-withdraws-proposed-anti-lgbt-propaganda-law/
Human Rights Campaign Backstory
Aug 9 2013
August 9, 2013 by Maureen McCarty, Online Content and Marketing Manager
The Armenian Police Department has withdrawn a proposed anti-LGBT
amendment, similar to the heinous "propaganda" law recently passed
in Russia.
The proposed amendment sought to fine individuals, legal entities
and officials up to $4,000 dollars for any public promotion of
"non-traditional sexual relationships." In essence, the amendment
would criminalize same-sex relationships in a country where the LGBT
community already face rampant discrimination and little to no legal
protection.
Police claimed the bill was necessary in order to protect "the model
of traditional Armenian family" against "phenomena alien to national
Armenian mentality," according to the Armenian news site Azatutyun.com.
Russia's own recently enacted anti-LGBT law criminalizing the most
modest gestures of support for LGBT individuals has brought concern
worldwide for not only the Olympic athletes and travellers, but also
the countless LGBT Russians who will continue to endure the law long
after the last medal is won.
Under the guise of protecting children from "homosexual propaganda,"
the law imposes fines or jail time to citizens who disseminate
information that may cause a "distorted understanding" that LGBT and
heterosexual relationships are "socially equivalent."
http://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/armenia-withdraws-proposed-anti-lgbt-propaganda-law/