Russia's First Transgender Politician Withdraws from Election Amidst Controversial Sex Change Ban

Yulia Alyoshina, Russia's first transgender politician, has announced that she will not run in the upcoming gubernatorial elections due to federal lawmakers pursuing a ban on legal or surgical sex changes. Alyoshina was unable to gather the required number of signatures to be allowed onto the ballot, as many municipal deputies feared being accused of spreading "LGBT propaganda" or "propaganda" of gender reassignment. The proposed bill is the latest in a series of socially conservative laws and initiatives in Russia, and Alyoshina plans to wait for its passing before deciding on her future plans.