"Russian President Bans Gender-Affirming Procedures in Landmark Legislation"

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed legislation that effectively outlaws gender-affirming procedures, dealing a severe blow to the already marginalized LGBTQ+ community in Russia. The bill, unanimously approved by both houses of parliament, prohibits medical interventions aimed at changing a person's sex and prevents individuals from changing their gender on official documents. The law also annuls marriages in which one person has transitioned and prohibits transgender individuals from becoming foster or adoptive parents. The ban is part of the Kremlin's efforts to protect what it considers traditional values and combat what it perceives as Western anti-family ideology. This crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights in Russia began a decade ago and has included various restrictive measures.