Russia’s Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a complaint from a human rights organization over St. Petersburg’s controversial law prohibiting propaganda of homosexuality among minors.
The complaint, which claimed the law was too broad and violates federal law, had been rejected by a St. Petersburg court in May.
A representative of the LGBT community said on Wednesday that the court had failed to establish any harmful social impact from homosexual, lesbian, bisexual or transgender relations.
“The idea of tolerance forms in childhood, whether it concerns politics, religion or sexual orientation,” the activist said. She added that because minors may have gay peers, they should be provided with appropriate information, not just negative stereotypes.
The law, which penalizes “the propaganda of homosexuality and pedophilia among minors,” came into force in St. Petersburg on March 17. It provides for fines of up to about $16,000 for individuals and $160,000 for organizations that promote homosexuality.
