I Don't Usually Make Posts Like This, But This Is Serious.

I don't usually make posts like this, but this is serious.

I'm not from the USA, nor do I live there. I'm canadian, but I have friends and people I know that live there and this is an issue. I couldn't help with anything other then signing petitions, because at the time I wasn't sure if I should post these or not.

This is about KOSA. While I don't know much about it, heres what I've gathered from articles.

The "Kids Online Safety Act" (KOSA) is a bill that was introduced to the United States Senate in February 2022 and reintroduced in May 2023; the bill "sets out requirements" to protect minors from harm on social media platforms.

This does NOT protect minors from harm on social media. This limits knowledge and safe spaces for children and teenagers. Additionally covered platforms must provide minors (or their parents or guardians) with certain safeguards, such as settings that restrict access to minors' personal data; and parents or guardians with tools to supervise minors' use of a platform, such as control of privacy and account settings. This can and WILL put children in abusive households in danger, this will limit lgbtq+ children/teenagers access to safe spaces and resources even further, this will not HELP youths mental health nor provide them safety. This act may aswell be putting them in more danger because that is what it will do for multiple people. Children/Teenagers in abusive households will no longer be able to get support from online if they are consistently monitored, because whatever they say will be SEEN. Apps and websites such as tiktok, discord, ao3 and multiple others will likely be removed, shutdown, monitored or banned in the USA. This not only limits the ability to spread awareness, but give support and help others. The bill considers awareness of ED's, su!c!dªl thoughts, lgbtq+ and discussion of race (as phrased in an article) as "glamorizing" it or romanticizing it. While that can be the case, more often then not there is more awareness about how to help, learn and discuss these things rather then glamorizing them. Children/Teenagers 13 and under would be banned from any social media + their platforms, and teenagers until the age of 17-18 would need parental consent to be able to use these platforms.

here are some articles about Kosa.

TechCrunch

Fan fiction writers rally fandoms against KOSA, the bill purporting to protect kids online | TechCrunch

Fan fiction writers aren’t just penning alternate universe and steamy scenes. This week, they’re writing letters to their Senators.

Electronic Frontier Foundation

The Kids Online Safety Act is Still A Huge Danger to Our Rights Online

Congress has resurrected the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), a bill that would increase surveillance and restrict access to information in th

This is not okay.

If you think this doesn't effect you because you are not in the states, then you're wrong. Even if it doesn't directly effect you, it can effect any and all of your online friends in and out of the states.

"What can I do?"

Spread awareness - make posts like this, reblog and like posts like these, share this on any possible media platform. Don't let them sweep this under the rug.

Sign petitions - Sign petitions, simple as that. I will have multiple petitions linked here. Some have the ability to donate to them if you can - even a dollar might help.

Do research - Research about KOSA, and then spread awareness.

Don't let them do this.

They are endangering youth all over the world. Su!c!d3 rates could and likely WILL skyrocket in youth from this because the online world is their safe place. Their support and their friends, and the information they get to help themselves exists HERE. Please spread awareness. Please add onto this and do research. Please correct me if I'm wrong on certain points, but don't let this be sweeped under the rug.

PETITIONS YOU CAN SIGN-

Change.org

Sign the Petition

BAN K​.​O​.​S​.​A. STOP THE GOVERNMENT FROM HAVING 'KIDS ONLINE SAFETY ACT'

Fight for the Future

Stop KOSA

KOSA is a censorship bill that won’t make kids safe. Instead, it'll put all internet users at risk, especially youth. If you believe in a fr

i feel like disability advocacy and homeless advocacy go hand in hand. like overlap aside, if you can't be normal about homeless people then you probably can't be normal about disabled people either

Russia's new law targets LGBT Rights. Specifically, Trans people.

TW: transphobia, discrimination, homophobia, anti-LGBT laws.

Disclaimer: This is wildly different from the content you’d normally find in this blog. I typically refrain from commenting on such topics. The world has been on fire for a while now and I don't have the mental energy or good headspace to keep up with the weekly 'once in a lifetime' event.

However, this time, the situation is different. Transphobia and the persistent denial and invalidation of trans lives deeply enrage me. Living in Europe, I had not heard of this news until my friend talked to me about it. This needs to be talked about more. The world needs to know.

TLDR: I bolded the most important text so you can skip the post and get the most important information. If you still want a shorter summary: Russia passed a law that is, basically, stripping LGBT (particularly trans) people of human rights.

First, a bit of context.

In 2013, the Russian government passed the federal law "For the Purpose of Protecting Children from Information Advocating a Denial of Traditional Family Values". This law, which gained international notoriety as ‘Russia's gay propaganda law' or 'anti-gay law', was introduced as an amendment to an existing child protection legislation with the primary aim of safeguarding children.

The law aimed to achieve its goal by criminalizing the distribution of materials that supported non-traditional sexual relationships among minors, as authorities believed such content contradicted traditional family values. However, the law's wording was broad and vague, effectively criminalizing various acts in support of LGBT rights. This included making statements or distributing materials advocating for equal rights, organizing pride parades or similar events, and even displaying LGBT symbols like the rainbow flag or engaging in same-sex public displays of affection.

Russian LGBT citizens who publicly opposed the law faced numerous arrests, and anti-gay protests and violence surged in the country. Hate crimes against the LGBTQ community increased, raising further concerns about the law's impact on freedom of expression and equality.

The implementation of the law was criticized internationally and considered a violation of freedom of expression by the European Court of Human Rights.

The Russian government extended its scope almost a decade later.

In December 2022, the Russian government extended the law to apply to anyone regardless of age, classifying displays of non-heterosexual relations or orientation as "information harmful to children's health and development". This extension effectively made alternative sexual orientation and gender identity, including gender transition, illegal.

The new ban had a broader scope, targeting any action or information that was perceived to promote homosexuality, whether in public, online, or through various forms of media such as films, books, or advertising. It also isolated children from any information and introduced hefty fines of up to 400,000 rubles for individuals and 5 million rubles for legal entities (such as NGOs), for breaking this law.

It also allowed for the blocking of websites and online sources hosting information about LGBT people. The law did not provide any exclusions for art, scientific studies, or education. Instead, it perpetuated false and damaging messaging that tried to link LGBT people with pedophiles, repeatedly referring to "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations and (or) preferences, pedophilia, and sex change."

Current situation.

In July 2023, a new law was enacted in Russia specifically targeting transgender people, banning gender-affirming care in the country.

The law has been heavily criticized for falsely linking homosexuality with pedophilia, perpetuating harmful stereotypes and stigmatization. By aiming to enshrine a traditional understanding of family, activists say Russia is marking LGBT people as second-class citizens.

Homosexual Marriages.

Neither same-sex marriages nor civil unions of same-sex couples are allowed.

Trans people.

Doctors are banned from offering gender-affirming healthcare and sexual reassignment surgery to any individual, regardless of age.

Changing gender markers on official documents is not allowed. Those who did so can’t adopt children under the new law.

If you look gender non conforming you can be denied adoption.

Administration of drugs and surgeries associated with gender reassignment therapy is now only permitted in cases that require treatment of reproductive organ deformities in intersex children. (Which means that HRT is illegal). Only licensed clinics linked to the Russian Health Ministry can make decisions on such treatments and issue relevant certificates.

Marriages between couples where one spouse changed their gender/is post-surgery will be invalidated and forced to a divorce.

But this is only one of the few laws that Russia is passing now. The government is also moving closer to outlawing abortion, people suffering from mental illnesses are stripped of human rights,  the president has authorized the creation of an institute for the “study of LGBT people” within the country’s federal psychiatric unit and much, much more.

What can I do to help?

First of all, I am very glad that my post encouraged you to help LGBT people in Russia. Sadly, there is not much a single individual can do against a whole countries’ legislation. Here are two ways you can help:

Spreading awareness is always good, to let other people know what’s happening on the other side of the world.

Some organizations also accept donations, hopefully they can reach the right people.

Coming Out is an LGBT organization that focuses on supporting the local LGBTQ community. They offer social and psychological assistance, organize events, and advocate for LGBTQ rights. They accept donations from both domestic and international sources. https://support.comingoutspb.com/

There are also other LGBT organizations that help LGBT people in Russia.

https://lgbtnet.org/en/ Provide legal and psychological assistance, train LGBT activists and support regional LGBT and human rights organizations.

https://centre-t.com/english Helping transgender people in Russia: psychological support, therapy groups and tea parties as well as training for practitioners.

https://delo.lgbt/en Legal advocacy of LGBT+ people in Russia.

Lastly, I consulted a ton of resources. I left just a few sprinkled in the hyperlinks on the post, but if you are interested in the topic, I encourage you to do your own research.

Reblog to make him lose another 200 billion, like to make him lose 1 billion

Dessert stimboard! Yummy