Last month, the Culture and Education Committee of the Moldovan Parliament approved a bill that seeks to ban ‘homosexual propaganda’, similar to the Russian anti-propaganda law of 2013.

Homophobia

The bill would impose fines for spreading “homosexual propaganda” to minors “through public meetings, the media,” and other means.

The move comes shortly after a failed attempt to overturn anti-discrimination law, which outlaws discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment.

In 2013, Moldova briefly had an anti-propaganda law, which was annulled by the Parliament three months after its adoption.

Ulrike Lunacek MEP, Co-President of the Intergroup on LGBTI Rights, reacted: “Three years after the Moldovan Parliament annulled an anti-propaganda law, opportunistic politicians unfortunately again seek to scapegoat LGBTI people. This is very worrying.”

“However, as a European state cherishing European values of freedom, equality and non-discrimination, I am confident Moldova and the majority of her lawmakers, will resist the Russian-inspired anti-propaganda bill.”

Tanja Fajon MEP, Vice-President of the LGBTI Intergroup and part of the EU-Moldova delegation, reacted: “Although the content of the bill worries us, I am glad to see that there are politicians speaking out against the bill. It is simply unacceptable that people could be punished for sharing objective information about LGBTI issues.”

“As a fellow parliamentarian, I call on all Moldovan parliamentarians to join in speaking out against this bill, and stand up for the rights of the LGBTI community.”

Photo By אנדר-ויק (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons

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