Russia bans transgender people from getting driver's licenses

MOSCOW, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Transsexual and transgender people, among others, will be denied driver's licenses in Russia, a law adopted this week says.

Russian Government Decision 1604 lists transsexuality as a "medical condition," preventing the acquisition of a driver's license. The list also includes fetishism, exhibitionism and voyeurism, as well as pathological gambling, compulsive stealing, hereditary eye diseases, amputees and being shorter than 150 centimeters (4 feet, 11 inches).

The tightening of restrictions is meant to lower the number of road accidents in the country, but Valery Evtushenko of the Russian Psychiatric Association called them "discriminatory," telling the BBC the law would deter those with psychiatric problems from seeking help.

A statement by the Association of Russian Lawyers noted "All transgender people, bigender, asexuals, transvestites, cross-dressers, people who need sex reassignment were recognized by Russian government as a people with the deviations. The state deprived these groups their rights to drive a vehicle," specifically noting the law is targeted at Russia's lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual community.

It referred to the law as "a serious violation of human rights" and promised complaints to Russia's Presidential Council on Human Rights and to international advocacy groups.