Russia bars transsexuals and transgenders from driving

Russian authorities have passed new regulations that will bar transsexual and transgender people from getting a driver’s license, the BBC reported on Thursday.

Fetishism, exhibitionism, voyeurism are now part of a list of “mental disorders” that will bar people from getting behind the wheel in Russia.

The government said the move was part of a policy to curb growing road accidents.

“We have too many deaths on the road, and I believe toughening medical requirements for applicants is fully justified,” head of the Professional Drivers Union said in support of the move.

The Association of Russian Lawyers for Human Rights branded the new regulations as “discriminatory,” adding that it would seek clarification from the Russian Constitutional court.

“Pathological” gambling and compulsive stealing have also made it to the list. Russian psychiatrists and human rights lawyers condemned the move.

Russia introduced legislation in 2013 that made “promoting non-traditional lifestyles” illegal.

As the new rules would take toll on the mobility of many, Valery Evtushenko at the Russian Psychiatric Association said he was concerned that some people would avoid seeking psychiatric help out of fear of the driving ban.

Under Russian regulations, “personality disorders” are too vague Mikhail Strakhov , a Russian psychiatric expert told BBC Russian, adding that some disorders would not affect a person’s ability safely operate a vehicle.