St. Petersburg city legislature has approved the bill banning the promotion of homosexuality and pedophilia. One of the law's initiators promised hat when the bill comes to force, the German group Rammstein would be penalized for "promotion of homosexuality".

      Vitaly Milonov, St. Petersburg deputy, claimed that, during the concert of the German industrial metal group Rammstein, the members of the group performed “insulting scenes of sexual character”. He described the whole show as “undisguised and rude pornography “. The lawmaker promised to find the ways to bring both the organizers of the concert and the group itself to responsibility.

      Provocative performances is a necessary part of Rammstein's concerts. The rockers often parody and make fun of social stereotypes nad some actual tendencies in society. No wonder that their shows are sometimes misunderstood.

      The scandalous bill was approved at its third reading on Wednesday by 29 votes to five with one abstention. Not it is sent to the St. Petersburg's governor Georgy Poltavchenko for signing. If the bill comes into force, promotion of homosexuality will be punished by a fine of 5,000 roubles ($166) for private individuals. There are even bigger fines for public persons and legal entitles. Prison sentences for pedophilia have also increased a lot, though it isn't clear why pedophilia and homosexuality are united into one law.

      The bill has already drawn criticism from the LGBT community in Russia and from Russian and international rights groups. Critics say the bill violates human rights and freedoms. In his turn, the lawmaker pointed out that the bill was not aimed at limiting the rights of citizens, but rather at improving of the moral image of St. Petersburg. The officials also don't rule out the possibility that the bill can be considered at the federal level.

      Negative attitude towards "non-traditional orientation" remains negative in Russia. Homosexuality was only removed from a list of mental illnesses in 1999. Gay marriages and the adoption of children by same-sex couples outlawed in the country. 

Sources: Vesti.ru RBC Rosbalt Image: livejournal

      Related News: "Gay Promotion" is Banned in St. Petersburg (9.02.2012)