Russia’s war on homosexuality is affecting the most vulnerable section of society – the country’s orphaned children. A decree was signed back in February by Russian prime minister, Dmitri Medvedev, that declares that single people from countries where same-sex marriage is legal are banned from adopting Russian children. This came as an amendment to the law passed last July, that prevents same-sex couples adopting Russian orphans, following the federal law that prohibits the promotion of homosexuality to minors, or any actions or statements that the government sees as condoning ‘nontraditional’ relationships.
Adoption isn’t popular in the country – according to a recent poll, less than 20% of Russians are willing to take in orphans. According to the Washington Post, it’s almost certain that children living in Russian orphanages are physically or mentally disabled, either congenital, due to alcohol abuse from the mother during pregnancy, or down to a loss of emotional contact due to living in state orphanages. The government’s answer to children with disabilities or parents that can’t cope is simply to put the children into state care. According to the Washington Post, 70-90 per cent of Russia’s orphans have parents that are alive, and according to a BBC report, when disabled orphans aren’t adopted, they remain in state care until they’re 18, and are then transferred to mental institutes where they often remain for the rest of their lives.
Read more at planetivy.com
