There are many requirements to be allowed to operate a motor vehicle. For one, your eyesight must be good, or correctable. Additionally, you need to be of a certain age, have no major physical defects that would render driving impossible…oh, and if you’re in Russia, you have to be straight (and cisgendered).
On December 29, 2014,?Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a document that placed new restrictions upon drivers. In addition to physical detractors such as being blind, the document also lists several “mental disorders.”?Some of the restrictions include transsexualism, transvestism, sadomasochism, and exhibitionism, along with pathological lying, compulsive theft, and pedophilia.
The list is very scattered, at best, but falls in line with their discrimination against LGBT people that started in 2013. According to the BBC, mental health experts and human rights advocates have reacted negatively to this news. From the BBC:
“The Association of Russian Lawyers for Human Rights called the new law “discriminatory”. It said it would demand clarifications from the Russian Constitutional Court and seek support from international human rights organisations.
But the Professional Drivers Union supported the move. ‘We have too many deaths on the road, and I believe toughening medical requirements for applicants is fully justified,’ said the union’s head Alexander Kotov.”
There are a few major problems this new legislation causes. First, it’s more legalized discrimination against LGBT people. Second, this is going to negatively impact people. If Russia’s citizens are afraid that they’ll be branded as something that will prevent them from driving, they’ll fail to seek psychological help when they need it. Most people would rather forego a trip to the Psychologist than lose their driving rights.
I’ve found no attempts by the Russian government to justify how being transsexual causes motor vehicle collisions. I’ll let you know as soon as they do.
