Russia Bans Gender Reassignment Surgeries

Russian lawmakers have passed a bill outlawing gender reassignment procedures, including changing one's gender in official documents and public records. The bill also annuls marriages in which one person has changed gender and prohibits transgender individuals from becoming foster or adoptive parents. The bill, which is seen as part of the Kremlin's efforts to protect "traditional values," must now be passed by the upper chamber and signed by President Putin. The move has drawn criticism from LGBTQ rights advocates and medical professionals, who argue that it denies necessary medical interventions and infringes on human rights.