Russia has imposed a bizarre new law that bars transsexual and transgender people from obtaining driving licenses. The Russian now also ban people found to have proclivities toward fetishism, exhibitionism, pathological gambling, compulsive stealing, and voyeurism as “mental disorders” incompatible with driving.
The Putin government has been widely denounced for its crackdown on homosexual rights as well as an array of other rights, including free speech.
There remains civil libertarians, lawyers, and doctors who actively right for civil liberties and these groups have denounced this latest abuse.
However, Alexander Kotov, head of the Professional Drivers Union, stood squarely in favor of arbitrary discrimination, insisting that “We have too many deaths on the road, and I believe toughening medical requirements for applicants is fully justified.” No one has explained why a transsexual would be more inclined to commit accidents than these drivers who presumably have the requisite gender clarity:
Source: BBC
I drove myself around the Soviet Union back in 1984. I had thought that the Turks were the worst drivers and had the worst roads in the world, but I found out that the Soviets were FAR worse. Some people had told me it was illegal to drive there after dark, but I found that was a lie. It was true that sane people found it better to stay off the roads after dark since in the daytime only 50% of the drivers were drunk. After dark, it soared to 100% were drunk. Rules of the road were optional. It is good to see nothing much has changed there and some traditions never die, just more people. Randy
Just a reminder that it’s 1984+, Winston. Driving while gay is badthink.
The further a government gets from its duty to secure the inalienable rights of its citizens, the more absurd the laws need to become.
Putin’s popularity has been because of a good oil economy. His numbers will plummet soon, just as the price of oil has.
Karen, 25% of all Russian men die before the age of 55! That’s like a 3rd world country 100 years ago! Vodka is the primary reason.
I wonder if the Russian government is looking for a new scapegoat. Though President Putin’s popularity seems strong domestically from this outside observer.
Sure, all those deaths on the road in Russia must be from those with fetishes, and not all the drunk drivers and road rage. I worry about the LGBT community over there, because this is likely the beginning of a ramp up.
Putin is not a champion of human rights, or respecting his county’s boundaries. He intends to restore the USSR to its former glory. Obama can’t handle him. A reset button would not go over well, either.
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/religious-right-cheers-vladimir-putin-anti-lgbt-violence-russia-surges
Religious Right cheers Vladimir Putin’s anti gay agenda.
Scott Lively, homophobic American fundamentalist pastor paid a visit to Putin. He didn’t just limit his anti gay influence in Africa. This guy has made the rounds and influenced heads of state.
http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2014/10/scott-lively-massachusetts-governor-sodom-russia
Are dashcams required in Russia? I’ve always suspected, but never confirmed through my own research, that property and casualty insurers probably lobbied for speed limits, drunk driving laws, etc. in the U.S. I can imagine insurers pushing for mandatory dashcams to ensure liability for accidents is properly assigned. Wonder if that’s already the case in Russia?
The Russian governments position on this is meritless. this is what can happen when politicians are not restrained.
I’m surprised they didn’t ban Asian drivers.
Who are the people who work for the “government” which so many of you loathe? They are God-fearing, flag pin wearing American citizens. Perhaps more devoted to this country than those of you who vilify them.
Bonkers. I could see the reasoning if there was a driving ban on certain categories of criminals – robbers, burglars, paedophiles, sexual predators, boy racers, and so on. Are politicians insane?
Living as I do in Chisinau, Moldova, I can attest to the amount of drinking in this neck of the woods. Vodka is religion- they both mollify the masses.
Jeff Silberman – if by mollify you mean make comatose, then I agree.
There are so many drunks on the road in Russia they’ve just given up on them. Go after transgenders now, that’ll do it.
The Soviets (and the Soviets are baaaaack) have always liked using mental health to take care of their dissidents. Putin is old school KGB.
Substance abuse is much higher among LGBT’s, but statistics also indicate that men have a higher incidence of injuries from traffic accidents than women. Do you think maybe they should let only women drive?
It would be interesting to know how they deal with driving and vodka, or driving while hunting tigers, or driving without a shirt…..