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Driving Licenses for Trans people in Russia

  • Posted by Pauline Smith January 8, 2015 1,230 views
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    Just be glad that none of us live in Russia where we would be classified as people with sex disorders and unable to drive.

    Please read the article below which was on the BBC website today....

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30735673

     

    Pauline xxxx

     

    Russia says drivers must not have 'sex disorders'

    Cars in Moscow - file picMoscow street: Various mental "disorders" are seen as a cause of road accidents
     
     

    Russia has listed transsexual and transgender people among those who will no longer qualify for driving licences.

     

    Fetishism, exhibitionism and voyeurism are also included as "mental disorders" now barring people from driving.

     

    The government says it is tightening medical controls for drivers because Russia has too many road accidents.

     

    "Pathological" gambling and compulsive stealing are also on the list. Russian psychiatrists and human rights lawyers have condemned the move.

     

    The announcement follows international complaints about Russian harassment of gay-rights activists.

     

    In 2013 Russia made "promoting non-traditional lifestyles" illegal.

     

    Valery Evtushenko at the Russian Psychiatric Association voiced concern about the driving restrictions, speaking to the BBC Russian Service. He said some people would avoid seeking psychiatric help, fearing a driving ban.

     

    The Association of Russian Lawyers for Human Rights called the new law "discriminatory". It said it would demand clarifications from the Russian Constitutional Court and seek support from international human rights organisations.

     

    But the Professional Drivers Union supported the move. "We have too many deaths on the road, and I believe toughening medical requirements for applicants is fully justified," said the union's head Alexander Kotov.

    However, he said the requirements should not be so strict for non-professional drivers.

     

    Mikhail Strakhov, a Russian psychiatric expert, told BBC Russian that the definition of "personality disorders" was too vague and some disorders would not affect a person's ability to drive a car safely.

     

     

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4 comments
  • Elizabeth (Liz) Arlington-Lee and Marianne Field like this
  • Berni David They're probably just frightened that they can't drive in heels?
  • Marianne Field A society descending into rabid intolerance I am afraid xx
  • J L Russia is a troubled place at the moment and the only thing I can believe is that we're only hearing the Russian(read Putin) Propaganda machine... be careful as there will be decisions made for no other reason than to provoke response/outrage. We can...  more
  • Berni David Further to my last. The Russians have alays been paranoid and I reckon Putin is no different.