Russia Seeks to Ban LGBTQ+ Movement
Are you concerned about LGBTQ+ rights in Russia?
What’s the story?
- The Russian justice ministry filed a motion to the country’s Supreme Court to ban the “international LGBT public movement,” it stated.
- The ministry said the movement has shown signs of “extremist activity,” including “social and religious strife.” The court will examine the motion on Nov. 30.
- The ban would make it nearly impossible for LGBTQ+ organizations to operate without facing criminal prosecution.
- The Moscow Times quoted an LGBTQ+ activist – one of the few left in the nation:
“This ban would deprive LGBT organizations of the opportunity to operate and would subject their activists and employees to the risk of criminal prosecution. Essentially, it would entail criminal prosecution based solely on one’s orientation or identity.”
LGBTQ+ life in Russia
- Homosexuality was a crime in Russia until 1993 and was regarded as a mental illness until 1999.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin has attempted to censure the LGBTQ+ community, which he claims to be a Western attack on “traditional Russian values.” Analysts suggest the newly introduced ban is a populist measure designed to get Putin more votes ahead of the presidential election next year.
- Last December, the Russian government passed legislation that banned “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations” among all age groups, an extension of a law that targeted minors in 2013.
- Under the law, any depiction of same-sex relations in media or advertising is handled equivalent to the distribution of pornography, the promotion of violence, or racial, ethnic, and religious tensions.
- Russian officials have declared that “non-traditional sexual relations” are not banned. This week, a representative of the Justice Ministry defended Russia’s human rights record at the U.N., saying LGBTQ+ rights are protected by law and the legal system only targets propaganda that threatens traditional values.
- Nevertheless, the latest motion has increased concern in the community. The activist quoted in the Moscow Times continued:
“LGBT people are a highly vulnerable group facing numerous social challenges. Over the past few years, LGBT organizations have endeavored to address these issues within an extremely hostile environment. Activists face pressure from the state, as well as from homophobic and transphobic groups, often enduring physical attacks.”
Are you concerned about LGBTQ+ rights in Russia?
-Jamie Epstein
(Photo credit: Flickr/RatBall)
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This is another distraction by Putin to keep his people from noticing his corruption and his needless war in Ukraine while controlling his people with fear.
I wish we could boot Russia from the UN Security Council so the UN could work to protect people in countries like Russia.
This wouldn't be the first nor only country that violates the rights of the LGBTQ persons.
"Shade never made anybody less gay."
I am more concerned with holding on to our democracy here in the USA!
Putin signed a law Dec 2022 expanding restrictions on LGBT "propaganda" which includes films, books, advertising, etc
Then in July 2023 he banned gender reassignment surgery, annuls marriages if one person has had gender reassignment surgery, and makes it illegal to change gender on official documents.
The current ban in Nov 2023 labels LGBT people and/or organizations extremists subject to criminal prosecution.
Keep this in mind as red state legislatures create leguslation banning books, gender reassignment surgery, etc that they are following in Putin's footsteps. And support may go further than that, as they advocate giving Ukraine to Russia.
"Under the new law, which widens Russia's interpretation of what qualifies as "LGBT propaganda", any action or the spreading of any information that is considered an attempt to promote homosexuality in public, online, or in films, books or advertising, could incur a heavy fine."
"Putin has signed legislation that bans people from officially or medically changing their gender, representing a further blow to Russia’s embattled LGBTQ+ community."
"Russia's justice ministry has filed a motion with the country's Supreme Court to ban the activities of what it calls the "international LGBT public movement" as extremist."
"It is unclear whether the ministry's statement refers to the LGBT community as a whole or specific organisations."
"It said the movement had shown signs of "extremist activity", including inciting "social and religious strife".
"The ban could leave any LGBT activist vulnerable to criminal prosecution."
https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/24/vladimir-putin-signs-law-banning-gender-changes-in-russia
https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/russias-war-lgbtq-community-continues
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-signs-law-expanding-russias-rules-against-lgbt-propaganda-2022-12-05/
That's like telling your neighbor what they can or cannot do. My rights to have my thoughts and opinions end when they encroach on those of others. A discussion of ideas is only productive when both parties agree to the right to have differing views or judgements.
The only thing we need to worry about is America and our corrupt gov't. At this point nothing else matters esp fringe distractions. Russia is at war, thousands have died and they're bankrupting us
No one has the right to dictate who we love, what makes up a family ect...
There are more important things than gay rights.
Maybe throw a few billion dollars at it. Worked for Ukraine.Oh wait...
I am concerned about human rights everywhere.
Everyone should have equal rights!
It's none of our business what Russia does or doesn't do with gay rights..... who the heck do we think we should even have an opinion.
I'm concerned for a lot of people in Russia. The LGBTQIA+ have it even worse than most.
That is their social issue, not ours. We unjustly insert our ideals into other societies and yet we cannot keep our own house in order. Just look at Congress and how Trump campaigns for an embarrassment.
I feel sad for all the people that live in Russia. But I'm more concerned about fascism supported by the GOP in this country.
Yes, I am very worried about it. I am even more worried about the attacks on Gay rights here in my own country. Of course, this is what always happens when the Right wing comes into power. The Johnson Amendment needs to be strengethened and furthered so that Church and State remain separate and so that religion does not enter into politics.
Theocracies are , and have always been, evil incarnate.
TAX THE CHURCHES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Until the ordinary citizen in Russia somehow figures out how to rid their government of Putin not much we can do about it.
The new and improved Trump?
As a gay man, I worry about thoughtless hatred anywhere and everywhere.
When I was young and just learning about myself and my sexuality, I was taught to fear and hate that part of myself.
That damaged me badly.
It took me a very long time to come to understand myself and even longer to accept myself.
Eventually, I finally learned to take pride and to be glad about who I am.
NO POLITICIANS SHOULD MAKE THAT PROCESS HARDER!
Too many young LGBTQ people kill themselves because the people in their lives and politicians in their states have told them that they are evil.
This is not just LGBTQ rights but freedom and democracy
Hell, I'm concerned about any rights in Russia.