Russia is on the verge of passing an expanded version of its notorious anti-LGBTQ bill that bans promotion of 'non-traditional sexual relations'

• Russia's State Duma passed an expanded version of its notorious anti-LGBTQ law. 
• The revised bill bans spreading "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations" to people of any age. The original law only applied to children. 
• Russian citizens can be fined hundreds of thousands of rubles for breaking the law. 

Russia's lower house of parliament on Thursday unanimously approved a bill that expands and strengthens a ban on spreading LGBTQ "propaganda" in the country. 

The bill prohibiting the promotion of "non-traditional sexual relations" builds upon a notorious law passed in 2013, which took aim at "propaganda" spread to minors. The new iteration of the law expands it to include people of all ages. 

Under the new law passed by the State Duma, films, and advertisements depicting same-sex relationships could be banned. Websites deemed to violate the ban may be blocked. The legislation also imposes hefty fines for activities seen as promoting pedophilia and gender-reassignment surgery. 

Russian citizens found to have spread propaganda about "non-traditional sexual relations" could face a fine of up to 400,000 rubles, or $6,600 at current exchange rates. Foreigners who break the law face expulsion from the country. 

The bill still needs to be approved by Russia's upper house of parliament and signed into law by President Vladimir Putin. 

Human-rights organizations have condemned Russia for the so-called "gay propaganda" law since its introduction. In 2018, Human Rights Watch found that the law sparked an increase in hostility toward LGBTQ youth in Russia. 

In 2017, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the law was discriminatory. 

"By adopting such laws the authorities reinforce stigma and prejudice and encourage homophobia, which is incompatible with the notions of equality, pluralism and tolerance inherent in a democratic society," the court said.