Russian Duma Bans Foreign Gay, Same Sex Couples Adoption of Russian Babes
Russia's Lower House of Parliament, or the Duma, has unanimously approved to support a bill that bans foreign gay, same-sex couples to adopt Russian orphans. The bill is also expanded to prohibit single foreign nationals from adopting as long as they came from a country where same-sex marriage is legal.
It's only a matter of time before Russian President Vladimir Putin affixes his signature to the bill to make it a law, since he had been earlier vocal of supporting such a legislature.
"No bill has been filed yet, but I would sign it," Mr Putin earlier said in June, in response to queries about the possibility of such a law.
Under the new amendments to Russia's family code, those banned from adopting Russian orphans or children include "persons in a marriage union between people of the same sex registered in a state where such a union is allowed, as well as citizens of such states that are not married."
"A child should have a mother and a father, a child in a family has an idea of what the world is about," Duma deputy speaker Sergei Zheleznyak said.
"If a child ends up with a homosexual couple it could of course cause severe damage and the child ends up with a distorted perception of reality," he said.
This, despite a recent study showing children adopted by gay, same-sex couples could actually become more successful compared to those adopted by heterosexual couples.
Read: Children of Gay Parents, Same-Sex Couples Actually Healthier, Happier, Thrive More - Australian Study
The new bill also affects the local Russians, since they must be first married to be able to adopt a child.
Worldwide, there are at least 14 countries that have legalized gay, same-sex marriages. France was the latest addition so far to the list.
Read: France Mayor Jean-Michel Colo Faces Jail Time After Refusing to Marry Gay Couple; Historical Timeline of Gay Marriage Legalizations Around the World
Just last week, Russia's Duma also passed a bill that poses stiff fines to gay propagandists in the country, specially those recruiting into homosexuality people under 18.
Read: Russia's Duma Passes Anti-Gay Propaganda Law By Whopping 436-0 Landslide Vote
"We are not ready to give children away to countries, which cannot provide their security, which cannot guarantee their safety and which do not communicate enough with the Russian side so that we could control their living conditions - as it was in the case with the United States of America. As such we are absolutely against the adoption of Russian children by same-sex couples," Olga Batalina, Deputy Head of State Duma committee on family and children affairs, said.
Read: Russia Firms Up into Law Prohibiting Americans from Adopting Russian Children
There are more than 600,000 children in Russia who are not in parental custody. About 100,000 live in institutions.