Russia is poised to expand its 2013 anti-LGBTQ law banning so-called gay propaganda. The law seeks to prohibit movies, advertisements, websites and books featuring same-sex relationships or transgender characters in a positive light. Individuals found to be in violation of the law could be fined over $6,000. President Putin is expected to soon sign the law, which was approved by lawmakers. This is Ksenia Mikhailova of the Russian LGBTQ support organization Coming Out.

Ksenia Mikhailova: “This is a signal that all the types of violence against LGBT people are allowed by the state. How it already happened in 2013, when was a wave of hate crimes against LGBT, now it will be a tsunami.”