Russia has banned transgenders, transsexual and individuals deemed with what the World Health Organization (WHO) defines as "disorders of sexual preference" from getting a driver's license -- a move that is now generating criticism from LGBT communities and human rights advocates.
On Dec. 29, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed the decree "On Road Safety," indicating which people would be denied a driver's license.
Russians who are transgenders, transsexuals, exhibitionists, fetishists and those with "gender identity disorders" and "disorders of sexual preference" have been banned from obtaining a driver's license, along with individuals who have psychological and behavioral disorders, such as those who have gambling addictions and kleptomania. Amputees and those who are shorter than 150 cm. (4 feet, 11 inches) are disqualified as well.
The Russian government said that it is its way of tightening medical control as Russia has had too many accidents on the road. Figures from the Russian Interior Ministry show that road accidents kill about 30,000 and injure about 250,000 people in Russia each year.
The new regulation is now eliciting an outcry. Shawn Gaylord from the non-profit organization Human Rights First said that it is ridiculous to prohibit people from driving an automobile because of their gender identity of expression. In a statement, his group asked the U.S to condemn the provision and pressure the Russian government to change its decision.
"This provision may deter transgender people from seeking mental health services for fear of receiving a diagnosis that would strip them of their right to drive, and leaves the door open for increased harassment, persecution, and discrimination of transgender people by Russian authorities," the group stated.
Transgenders like Maria Bast, a lawyer with the Association of Russian Lawyers for Human Rights, also protested the new ruling, describing the decree as discriminatory and immoral. Bast said that the people who were disqualified are legally capable and their classifications do not affect their driving at all.
The Professional Drivers Union, however, supports the new decree, saying that it is justified given that there has been too many fatal accidents on the road.
"We have too many deaths on the road, and I believe toughening medical requirements for applicants is fully justified," said Alexander Kotov, head of the union.
Medical experts, however, pointed out that some of the disorders that were identified on the list do not affect the capacity of a person to drive safely.
