Plan B Forum

Russia has listed transsexual and transgender people among those who will no longer qualify for driving licences.

Fetishism, exhibitionism and voyeurism are also included as "mental disorders" now barring people from driving.

The government says it is tightening medical controls for drivers because Russia has too many road accidents.

"Pathological" gambling and compulsive stealing are also on the list. Russian psychiatrists and human rights lawyers have condemned the move.

The announcement follows international complaints about Russian harassment of gay-rights activists.

In 2013 Russia made "promoting non-traditional lifestyles" illegal.

Valery Evtushenko at the Russian Psychiatric Association voiced concern about the driving restrictions, speaking to the BBC Russian Service. He said some people would avoid seeking psychiatric help, fearing a driving ban.

The Association of Russian Lawyers for Human Rights called the new law "discriminatory". It said it would demand clarifications from the Russian Constitutional Court and seek support from international human rights organisations.

But the Professional Drivers Union supported the move. "We have too many deaths on the road, and I believe toughening medical requirements for applicants is fully justified," said the union's head Alexander Kotov.

However, he said the requirements should not be so strict for non-professional drivers.

Mikhail Strakhov, a Russian psychiatric expert, told BBC Russian that the definition of "personality disorders" was too vague and some disorders would not affect a person's ability to drive a car safely.

rubato wrote:Regresses? From what enlightened state have they regressed?

Regressed?


yrs,
rubato

Among those to decry the new regulations was Shawn Gaylord of Human Rights First, who noted that "banning people from driving based on their gender identity or expression is ridiculous and just another example of the Russian regime’s methodical rollback of basic human rights for its citizens.”

“Beyond the denial of basic freedoms, this provision may deter transgender people from seeking mental health services for fear of receiving a diagnosis that would strip them of their right to drive, and leaves the door open for increased harassment, persecution, and discrimination of transgender people by Russian authorities," Gaylord added in a statement emailed to The Huffington Post which also appeared on the group's website. "We urge the United States to immediately condemn this provision and to press the Russian government to repeal this decision."

While Russian psychiatric expert Mikhail Strakhov and Valery Evtushenko of the Russian Psychiatric Association were among those to also condemn the regulations, Alexander Kotov of Russia's Professional Drivers Union said be believed "toughening medical requirements for applicants is fully justified," according to the BBC.

Of course, the driving regulations are just one contribution in what appears to be an increasingly volatile environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Russians.

Russia's stance on its LGBT residents came under intense scrutiny last year in the wake of global speculation as to how its controversial "gay propaganda" law would impact foreign athletes participating in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, as well as attendees.

dgs49 wrote:While these regulations, if accurately portrayed, are preposterous, why would transgender people seek mental health services? Because they believe they might be AFU?

Hmmm.

they are a continuation of the same repressive policies they have always had.

In the 1990s, life for gay Russians improved immensely. As noted in The New Yorker (2014), the Yeltsin government repealed Article 121, the anti-sodomy law. Gay bars and dance clubs opened and small, gay and lesbian community organizations were started. Tolerance decreased when Putin came to power in 2000. Anti-gay legislation was passed in the provinces and Putin used TV broadcasts as a means to introduce anti-gay messages.