Russian lawmakers endorse bill to ban adoptions by gender-transition countries

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s upper house of parliament has endorsed a bill banning adoption of Russian children by citizens of countries where gender transitioning is legal. The Federation Council on Wednesday also approved bills that outlaw the spread of material that encourages people not to have children. The bills, which have previously been approved by the lower house, will now go to President Vladimir Putin for signing into law. They follow a series of laws that have suppressed sexual minorities. Putin and other senior officials have in recent years promoted so-called traditional values as a counter to Western liberalism.