Duma Adopts Bill Banning Sex Change, Adoption By Transgender People

The third and final reading is due to take place in the State Duma on July 14. (file photo)

Russia's State Duma adopted in the second reading a bill on July 13 that bans surgical operations "aimed at changing the sex of a person" and the changing of the gender marker in documents. An exception is made for cases related to the treatment of "congenital physiological anomalies of sex formation in children," but such operations can be carried out only by decision of the medical commission and in public clinics. The bill also bans transgender people from adopting children or establishing guardianship over minors. The third and final reading is due to take place on July 14. To read the original stories by RFE/RL's Russian Service and Current Time, click here.