Russia's first transgender politician, Yulia Aleshina, has announced her retirement from politics. She heads the branch of the Civil Initiative party in the Altai Territory. The decision is linked to a new law banning "gay propaganda".
“I made a difficult decision: I’m leaving politics! Today, the State Duma adopted in the first reading a law banning LGBT propaganda. I have never been engaged in such propaganda, but I have no idea how to continue to conduct public political activities, being an open transgender woman, ”Alyoshina wrote on social networks.
She recalled that more than a year ago she was elected by her colleagues to the post of head of the party branch, and all this time she and the team fought for civil liberties in the region. In particular, members of the “Civil Initiative” in Barnaul opposed restrictions on visiting public places linked to QR codes, called for foreign-made coronavirus vaccines to be allowed on the Russian market, and demanded that psychologists be hired in all Russian schools.
Aleshina notes that all this time she met with great resistance from the authorities. “In violation of the current legislation, I was not allowed to attend sessions of the regional parliament, they refused to register as a candidate for deputies of the Barnaul City Duma. And I am sure that the reason for this is my transgender. With the adoption of a new discriminatory law, more serious opposition can be expected. Going into politics, I planned to fight and fought for the rights and freedoms of all citizens, regardless of their nationality, orientation, and even political views. But I guess I was a little ahead of my time."
Recall that on October 27, the State Duma in the first reading adopted a law banning “gay propaganda”. The law introduces many clauses according to which almost anything can be considered “gay propaganda”. It will be considered a violation of the law even to show films where homosexual relations will be presented as something normal, not reprehensible. In addition, all gay clubs in Russia will be closed, deputy Nina Ostanina said. Given that there is no corresponding official category of clubs, any establishment in which someone "notices" any hints of homosexual relations or, for example, homosexual guests, will be able to close.