Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Getty Images)

During a meeting about amending the Russian Constitution last week, President Vladimir Putin said, "as long as I'm president" there will be no "gay marriage" in Russia. "there will be dad and mum," he added.

Putin made his remarks on Feb. 13 during the meeting in the Kremlin, in Moscow. Putin made clear, according to Reuters, that there would not be a "parent number 1" and "parent number 2" on birth certificates or related official documents.

(Getty Images)

"As far as 'parent number 1' and 'parent number 2' goes, I've already spoken publicly about this and I'll repeat it again," he said, "as long as I am president this will not happen."

"There will be dad and mum," said the Russian president.

Over the last two decades, reported Reuters, "Putin as closely aligned himself with the Orthodox Church and sought to distance Russia from liberal Western values, including attitudes towards homosexuality and gender fluidity."





The "gay marriage" issue arose during the meeting because one official proposed adding a line to the Russian Constitution defining marriage as being between one man and one woman, as nature and God intended.

In 1993, after the fall of the Soviet Union, homosexual relations among consenting adults were decriminalized in Russia, and in 1999 homosexuality was declassified as a mental illness. So-called gay marriage, however, is not allowed.

In 2013, Russia enacted a law that prohibits the promotion of homosexual propaganda to minor youth and children, through print, radio, television and the Internet.



