Deputy Khinshtein spoke about those who disagree with the ban on LGBT propaganda

“Absolute minority”

The sensational bill to ban LGBT propaganda resonated in the minds and souls of the public with a storm of emotions. The proposals of the Duma members on substantial fines for violators of the ban raised many questions. Especially after the October 17 parliamentary hearings on this topic. We discussed the situation with one of the developers of the bill, the head of the Committee on Information Policy of the State Duma, Alexander Khinshtein.

— How do you assess the emotional mood in society after the parliamentary hearings on the bill to ban LGBT propaganda?

– The mood is positive. The overwhelming majority in our society supports the bill. Moreover, people insist that LGBT propaganda be banned. Of course, there are individual voices against, but they are in an absolute minority.

– After hearings in the State Duma, the bill remains in its original form? Is there any desire to correct something in it?

— Today we have developed a package of amendments in two parts. The first is amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses. The second – in five branch laws.

The idea of ​​the bill is to directly ban LGBT propaganda, and changes to the administrative code are designed to establish liability for violating the ban. It is planned to correct the wording, remove the reference to age, so that any propaganda is banned, and not just directed against minors. Amendments to industry laws are designed to ban the promotion of non-traditional relationships in all areas: offline and online. This refers to social networks, and the media, and online cinemas.

— What should be understood by LGBT propaganda?

— We are talking about a ban on the dissemination of information aimed at the formation of non-traditional sexual attitudes and preferences, emphasizing the attractiveness of LGBT relationships. As for minors, there should be a ban on information that demonstrates and forms an attitude towards a desire to change sex. But here it is important to understand that a demonstration is not always propaganda.

– Who will decide whether, for example, a movie or a book is LGBT propaganda or not?

– In each case, experts will look. This is a question of Roskomnadzor as a regulator.

– When is it planned to submit the bill to the State Duma?

– As quickly as possible. We hope that it will appear in the database of the State Duma this week. It is possible that additions will be added to the bill by the second reading.

How will the ban work in practice? For example, in relation to movies?

– For new films, the decision will be made at the stage of issuing a distribution certificate. The Ministry of Culture simply will not issue it.

What if the piece is old? Brokeback Mountain and Nabokov’s Lolita come to mind. Can all this disappear from online movie theaters and bookstores?

– If experts find signs of LGBT propaganda in the content, then audiovisual services will have to remove it from access. It is difficult to say specifically about the film “Brokeback Mountain”. But we should not have such fresh books as, for example, “Summer in a Pioneer Tie”. I think that in terms of old films and literary works, if the ban works, then these will be isolated cases that can be counted, as they say, on the fingers of one fingerless hand.