The upper house of the Belarusian parliament on April 2 finally approved a bill that provides for punishment for the so-called "propaganda of homosexual relations" and "gender changes." The document still has to be signed by Alexander Lukashenka, after which it will come into force. This is reported by AP, writes UNN.
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The bill provides for fines, community service, or up to 15 days of arrest for "propaganda of homosexual relations, gender changes, refusal to have children, and pedophilia." Human rights activists have already stated that the new norms actually legalize further repression against the LGBTQ+ community.
Human rights activists warn of a new wave of persecution
Belarusian LGBTQ+ organizations state that persecution began even before the adoption of this document, but now law enforcement agencies will have formal grounds for it.
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LGBTQ+ people faced beatings, arrests, persecution, and abuse even before the bill was approved, but now law enforcement agencies have received legal grounds for repression
According to her, the Belarusian authorities are actually copying the Russian model of pressure on the community.
Belarus is copying Russia's sad experience, creating unbearable conditions for LGBT+ people
Belarus decriminalized homosexuality in 1994, but the country does not recognize same-sex marriage and has no legal protection for the rights of LGBTQ+ people.