Lower House of Russian Parliament Unanimously Passes Anti-Gay Bill

Bans giving children information about homosexuality and bans "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations"

A BILL that stigmatises Russia's gay community and bans the distribution of information about homosexuality to children has been overwhelmingly approved by the lower house of parliament.

More than two dozen protesters were attacked by anti-gay activists and then detained by police, hours before the State Duma approved the Kremlin-backed legislation in a 436-0 vote.

The bill banning "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations" still needs to be passed by the appointed upper house and signed into law by President Vladimir Putin, but neither step is in doubt.