Russian President Vladimir Putin is under fire after enforcing anti-gay laws before the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics.
The bills concern the “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations” and the protection of “children from information that can bring harm to their health and well being.”
According to article 6.21 of the bill, “Propaganda is the act of distributing information among minors that 1) is aimed at the creating nontraditional sexual attitudes, 2) makes nontraditional sexual relations attractive, 3) equates the social value of traditional and nontraditional sexual relations, or 4) creates an interest in nontraditional sexual relations.”
Native violators of the bill can be fined anywhere from 4 thousand to 1 million rubles (which translates to anywhere between about $120 and $30,000) depending on affiliation and involvement with organizations or government positions. Foreign violators can be fined anywhere from 4 thousand to one hundred thousand rubles or a 15-day detention followed by deportation.
Putin has received backlash for signing into law these bills during Russia’s hosting of the 2014 Winter Olympics. Many view it as a blatant disregard to the theme of togetherness that the Olympics are supposed to represent.
Despite having signed the bills into law, Putin insists that the current protests against the country’s bills should not interfere with the Olympics.
The citizens are not the only ones taking a stand against Putin’s actions. In a recent letter addressed to Putin, Prison Break star Wentworth Miller came out after being asked to attend a film festival in Russia.
”As a gay man, I must decline,” Miller said in a letter. “I am deeply troubled by the current attitude toward and treatment of gay men and women by the Russian government. The situation is in no way acceptable, and I cannot in good conscience participate in a celebratory occasion hosted by a country where people like myself are being systematically denied their basic right to live and love openly.”