Anti-gay Russian member of parliament Mikhail Degtyarev, who wants the Russian government to offer free “gay cures” to all of its homosexually-inclined citizens, apparently has another pet issue: the scourge of menstruation.

Degtyarev, a family-values wonderboy all of 32 years of age, says that menstruation is not simply a “medical” problem, but a “societal problem” as well. You see, women “often” call ambulances while having menstrual cramps, Degtyarev explains.

So Degtyarev is pushing legislation that would give women two days off per month during those “critical days” when they’re menstruating.

Why? Well, rather than paraphrase Degtyarev, let’s hear it directly from the horse’s, er, mouth:

“In this period, the majority of women experience psychological and physical discomfort. Often the pain for the fair sex is so intense that they are forced to call an ambulance.” [emphasis added]

Now, I grew up with a mom and two sisters. And the monthly visit from their “friend” was rather a non-event in our house. Certainly no one was “often forced to call an ambulance.” But maybe that’s just us – you know those stoic Greeks.

More from Degtyarev:

“Strong pain induces heightened fatigue, reduces memory and work-competence and leads to colorful expressions of emotional discomfort,” reads a copy of the bill published on Degtyarev’s website. “Therefore scientists and gynecologists look on difficult menstruation not only as a medical, but also a social problem.”

It sounded pretty wacky to me, but hey, I’m man enough to know that I’m no Mikhail Degtyarev when it comes to understanding the social problem of menstruation. So I messaged a friend, had her read what Degtyarev was proposing, and asker her if I was missing something.

Her response was colorful: “OMG, it’s wildly offensive. Insane. INSANE.”

She added: “It is another mechanism for discriminating against women.”

But what about the ambulances? Do she and her friends “often” call the ambulance while menstruating?

“No, it’s not common.”

She sounded a bit ticked. Perhaps it’s just one of those critical days.