Bookstores in Russia are removing LGBT-themed books after President Vladimir Putin signed a law that significantly expands restrictions on activities deemed to promote LGBT rights in the country.
Back in 2013 the Russian law banned what authorities deemed to be spreading “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations” to minors, but the new law extends that ban to the dissemination of such information to those 18 and older.
The new law bans advertising, media and online resources, books, films and theatrical productions deemed to contain such “propaganda” and also expands existing restrictions by prohibiting the dissemination of information on sex change to minors.
Whoever breaks this law will have to pay a fine, and if people who are not residents of Russia break the law, they will be expelled from the country.
Russia’s largest bookstore chain Chitai-Gorod and Moscow bookstore Respublika have already begun removing books dealing with “non-traditional relationships,” the independent Novaya Gazeta Evropa reported.