Russian authorities deny trans driving ban reports

The Russian Government has denied reports that they have banned transgender people from driving.

Russia released a legislative document which revealed a set of “medical” guidelines for drivers in an effort to cut down road accidents, which reports alleged included banning those with “gender identity disorders” which include “transsexualism,” “dual-role transvestism,” sadomasochism” and “exhibitionism” from applying for a drivers license. Find out more here.

The list of medical guidelines were taken from the World Health Organisation (WHO), who still list those who identify as transgender as suffering from a “disorder of sexual preference”.

Now, Health Minister Oleg Salagail has clarified that only those with “mental or behavioural” disorders will be covered by the law, which means that transgender people will not face a driving ban.

“The varying severity of mental disorders among patients — as well as their need for psychotropic drugs that significantly alter their reactions — make it impossible for [certain people] to drive,” he said in a statement, reports Moscow Times.

In June 2013, Russia passed laws banning the promotion of “non-traditional sexual relations”, and there has been an increasingly hostile atmosphere towards the country’s LGBT community ever since.

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