Police detain 20 as Russia’s Duma approves controversial anti-gay legislation

Russian police detained 20 gay rights campaigners and militant Orthodox Christian activists Friday near the country’s parliament as it overwhelmingly backed a bill that would ban “homosexual propaganda.” Russia’s State Duma, the lower house of parliament, voted 388-1-1 for the law that makes public events and dissemination of information on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, or LGBT, community to minors punishable by fines of up to $16,000. After two more readings, the bill will have to be signed by President Vladimir Putin. Earlier Friday, three dozen LGBT rights campaigners gathered near the State Duma to protest the law, while militant Orthodox activists started assaulting and pelting them with eggs. Police intervened, but mostly detained the LGBT campaigners.