Hate, Fear, and Violence: The Position of the LGBTQ+ Community in Russia
With the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia has demonstrated a progressive tendency by legalizing homosexuality, recognizing gender-affirming care, and minimizing state-imposed censure and stigmatization of same-sex relationships in the media. While the legal situation of the LGBTQ+ community in Russia was far from equal, the measures taken in 1990-ies and early 2000s were a significant step towards tolerance and restoration of human rights with the emergence of legal LGBTQ+ rights advocacy organizations and a slight shift in public opinion.
However, in early 2010-s, the policy changed its direction radically, imposing bans on the information spread by the media and individuals concerning same-sex relationships and different gender identities. Since then, more and more laws have been created, limiting not only the capacity to discuss and share experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals but also their rights, as well as access to necessary medical aid. As the political regime is growing more oppressive, the narratives of “traditional values” and “gay propaganda, corrupting youth” are being actively supported by the state mechanism.
Traditional Values and Weaponization of Hate
As any state that has recently undergone major political changes, the Russian Federation has sought its sovereign identity. Despite being a multi-ethnic state with its minorities practicing various religions, and thus, having different historical heritage and culture, the core of Russian national ideology is based on Orthodox Christianity. The ideology is often referred to as “traditional values”, and is largely heteronormative, homophobic, and patriarchal. The ideology is opposed to “Western values” understood as the source of “gay propaganda” and the “childfree movement”.
Seeking to protect traditional values, Russian authorities adopted a sequence of “anti-propaganda laws” first to prohibit it among minors in 2013, followed by a full ban on materials about “non-traditional” relationships in 2022. It is notable that the text of the laws is vague and broad, and does not specify what is to be considered as propaganda, making any form of depiction of the LGBTQ+ community in the media or on the Internet potentially subject to a fine. Social media influencers, movie streaming platforms, protestors and even dating website users have been fined for “propaganda” following the adoption of the legislation. The wordings used in the legislation place “propaganda” of homosexuality and gender dysphoria next to the popularization of pedophilia, which contributes to the growth of stigma and discrimination.
As another measure to protect traditions, one of the adopted 2020 Constitution amendments included a statement that marriage is only possible between men and women, almost fully eliminating any possibility of allowing same-sex marriages.
In 2023, Putin amended the “Basics of the State Culture Policy” where he emphasized the primacy of religious and moral values and stated that a threat to “traditional values” would mean a threat to state security. With about 74% of the population believing that homosexuality should not be accepted, this makes homophobia a powerful tool for consolidation and mobilization of people at times when popular support for the government’s actions is declining.
The war between Russia and Ukraine has been often pictured by the state media as a conflict between Russia and the “West”, with the LGBTQ+ community being a popular and easy-to-comprehend symbol of the adversary. The LGBTQ+ community is viewed as a threat to Russian identity, as well as a threat to demographic growth within the country. This way, the homophobia of the majority is a solid foundation for pro-war propaganda, turning a war of occupation into a fight for national sovereignty and moral values. It works as a distraction from the aggressive character of war in Ukraine by picturing it as defensive.
Human Rights Advocacy and Political Oppression
The war against “Western values” is combined with political persecution of human rights activists and organizations, as well as public figures expressing their disagreement with the state policy. Opposition and criticism are viewed as influenced by the West, which has led to the creation of a status of “foreign agent” that is given to public figures to complicate their work, limit their political participation, and discredit them in the eyes of the population. Many LGBTQ+ rights organizations and activists have faced these sanctions, with some NGOs being forced to terminate their work and many people fleeing the country for safety.
This way, “anti-propaganda” laws along with marking activists as “foreign agents'', contribute to silencing the voices of the LGBTQ+ community, limiting the work of organizations that provide help to LGBTQ people, setting fear that hinders them from being open about their experiences and normalizing an environment that is hostile towards the community. This environment makes spreading awareness, protests, and pride parades impossible, as there is a double threat: a danger of both political persecution and violence within the society.
Another measure that has just been taken is the decision of Russia’s Supreme Court to recognize the “international public LGBT movement” as extremist. In official statements, it is viewed as an international organization. While there is no official international organization with such a title, it can lead to severe consequences. Any demonstration of symbols associated with the LGBTQ+ community, any private donation, or any actions, statements, or events of any NGOs that support LGBTQ+ rights can be regarded as extremist, leading up to 10 years in prison under Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code.
This measure can complicate the work of the few organizations that keep providing help to LGBTQ individuals in Russia, and make it more likely for people to be persecuted for their sexuality or gender identity, as well as fuel further homophobia and transphobia. Lack of transparency and vague wordings aim to set permanent anxiety in LGBTQ+ Russians, the atmosphere of terror, in which any individual might experience fear of persecution for the sole fact of one’s existence. While the Supreme Court’s ruling does not outlaw same-sex relationships per se, any LGBTQ+ person and supporter might get affected for expressing their identity and beliefs.
Trans Rights and the Future of State Interference in Private Life
In July 2023, Putin signed a law that prohibits changing gender identifiers on legal documents and any gender-affirming medical or surgical procedures. Those who have changed their gender prior were banned from adopting children. NGOs, such as “Center T”, “Sphere” or “Vykhod” (“Coming Out”) still working in Russia, had helped hundreds of transgender people to go through all the necessary procedures before the enactment of the legislation. Now, they are helping them to leave the country, as safety has become the number one concern for trans people.
Transgender people have been the most vulnerable to medical abuse, many undergoing punitive psychiatry and conversion therapy. These measures are supported by state officials and might have been de-facto legalized as the Ministry of Health is developing a “research center” on “social behavior” of LGBTQ+ individuals, as well as introducing “sexologists'' at public that are expected to “help to cure” from homosexuality.
While same-sex relationships are not banned in Russia, state interference in private lives is growing, pressuring women to give birth by complicating the process of abortion. Officials have started claiming that women’s education should not be prioritized, and “Western values” and career goals distract women from building a family. Thus, state-sponsored homophobia goes hand-in-hand with misogyny, and the already imposed bans can be followed by criminalization of same-sex relationships, as well as abortion bans.
Hate Crimes Supported by State
State legislation and openly queerphobic narratives in the government and state media fuel hate and commitment to hate crimes towards the members of the LGBTQ+ community. Between 2010 and 2020, 1056 hate crimes were committed, with 365 fatalities, as the 2013 “anti-propaganda” law caused the crime rate to triple.
Local authorities in the North Caucasus region of Chechnya, in their pursuit to “defend” Muslim values abduct, torture and kill members of the LGBTQ+ community. In 2017 and 2019 there have been mass lethal purges of “gay-looking” men. Anyone not presenting as traditionally masculine is targeted, along with family members committing “honor killings''. Non-LGBTQ+ people are threatened as well, as there is no way to prove that one is heterosexual if the perpetrators assume one is homosexual or transgender. These crimes are backed by Russian authorities, and thus, neither being investigated nor being punishable.
Such blatant human rights violations, as well as a total lack of legal protection of vulnerable communities and biases against LGBTQ+ people at every stage of the judicial process, place in grave danger every member of the community, as well as allies, activists, and simply differently looking people. Violence is supported on the structural level, making fitting in a homophobic environment a matter of survival, which excludes freedom of speech and expression and deprives people of having a happy personal life.
Conclusion: Are Women the Next Target?
Patriarchal and heteronormative values are the essence of Russia’s state ideology. The surge in state-supported violence and the development of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation silences and threatens a vulnerable community. The state openly denies basic rights, expressing pride over the measures taken and encouraging hate towards the community through media outlets. There are no limits to these violations, as no legal action, either within Russia or in international organizations can be made to hold the authorities accountable.
One of the main goals of the oppressive regime is to set fear and silence the community. Hateful statements in the media, noteworthy arrests and convictions along with hate crimes are terrorizing the LGBTQ+ community, paralyzing its activity.
Many activists claim that such a disregard for LGBTQ+ rights demonstrates a possibility that the next step can be the marginalization of women, as Russia is entering a demographic crisis due to the war in Ukraine. With growing authoritarianism, there is an obvious tendency towards interference in people’s personal lives, bodily autonomy, reproductive rights, and freedom of choice.
Just like Russian authorities actively foster queerphobia, nothing will stop them from spreading misogyny and sexism as a part of official state politics. Fear, hate, and unpunished violence are powerful tools of the regime threatening vulnerable communities.
References
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