Russia prevents trans people from obtaining driving licences

Russia has introduced a new set of medical regulations in an effort to tackle an increase in road accidents.

The new tightened medical controls would exclude people with ‘disorders of sexual preferance’ such as ‘transsexualism’ and ‘dual-role transvestism’. The legislative document mostly includes physical disorders, but it also lists sadomasochism, voyeurism, and exhibitionism as ‘mental disorders’ that would prevent someone from obtaining a driving licence.

Russia has been under increased scrutiny for discriminating against its LGBT community and harassing gay rights activists, after it introduced a controversial law in 2013 making the promotion of " non-traditional lifestyles" illegal.

Speaking to the BBC Russian Service, Valery Evtushenko of the Russian Psychiatric Association expressed concern about the new driving regulations, saying it would discourage people from seeking psychiatric help for fear of receiving a driving ban.

The Association of Russian Lawyers for Human Rights have called the new law “discriminatory”and are demanding clarifications from the Russian Constitutional Court.