Russia has recently banned transsexual and transgender people from obtaining driver's licenses on the premise that "mental disorders" are a major cause of road accidents.

According to the Huffington Post, the driving ban claims to tighten medical controls, and applies to those with physical impairments (such as blindness), a wide array of "mental disorders," and "gender identity disorders."

These "gender identity disorders" include but are not limited to "transsexualism," "dual-role transvestism," "sadomasochism," and "exhibitionism." "Pathological" gambling and compulsive stealing are also on the list under "mental disorders."

BBC reports that in 2013, Russia made "promoting non-traditional lifestyles" illegal. As a result, it comes as no surprise that the Russian Drivers Union is fully supporting the recent move.  Union head Alexander Kotov stated, "We have too many deaths on the road, and I believe toughening medical requirements for applicants is fully justified."

However, many people see the ban as unjustified. Shawn Gaylord of Human Rights First stated, "Banning people from driving based on their gender identity or expression is ridiculous and just another example of the Russian regime's methodical rollback of basic human rights for its citizens."

He continued, "Beyond the denial of basic freedoms, this provision may deter transgender people from seeking mental health services for fear of receiving a diagnosis that would strip them of their right to drive, and leaves the door open for increased harassment, persecution, and discrimination of transgender people by Russian authorities."

The Association of Russian Lawyers for Human Rights has also called the new law "discriminatory." BBC reports that Russian psychiatric expert Mikhail Strakhov also said the definition of "personality disorders" was too vague and some disorders would not affect a person's ability to drive a car safely.

On the whole, the new driving regulations are contributing to an increasingly unstable environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Russians.