St. Petersburg's child welfare agencies have begun requiring prospective adoptive parents and guardians to provide proof they haven't undergone "gender transition," according to investigative outlet Important Stories. The publication cites both adoption applicants and child protection officials as sources.
Applicants report these new documentation demands emerged in 2024. The requirements vary - some must submit handwritten personal statements, while others need official certificates from civil registry offices, despite such documents not appearing on any official checklist.
One resident described the bureaucratic confusion: "[The registry office] was completely baffled - no such certificate [about gender transition] exists. Eventually, they issued my birth certificate with an added handwritten note at the bottom stating 'Has not changed sex.' My spouse had to obtain the same documentation." The unconventional requirement appears to be implemented inconsistently across different cases.