Russian lawmaker proposes constitutional amendment banning gay ‘marriage’
MOSCOW, RUSSIA , April 8, 2014, – The leader of one of Russia ’s political parties has introduced an initiative to modify the country’s constitution to define marriage as being between one man and one woman. Igor Zotov, the sponsor of the measure, is the head of the Russian Pensioner’s Party, in addition to being a Lower House MP. His proposal would change Article 38 of Russia’s constitution, inserting the line “Motherhood and childhood, family and marriage as a voluntary union between a man and a woman are under the protection of the state.” Currently, the constitution mentions the “family,” but without defining it. The proposal would change Article 38 of Russia’s constitution, inserting the line “Motherhood and childhood, family and marriage as a voluntary union between a man and a woman are under the protection of the state.” Zotov said that recent influence from the West and the growing prevalence of same-sex “marriage” necessitates the constitutional amendment. Th