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Wikipedia

Russian anti-LGBT law

January 01, 1970

For the Purpose of Protecting Children from Information Advocating a Denial of Traditional Family Values, commonly known as the Russian anti-LGBT law[1][2][3][4] or as the Russian anti-gay law,[5][6][7][8] is a law of Russia. It was unanimously passed by the State Duma on 11 June 2013 (with only one member abstaining—Ilya Ponomarev),[7] unanimously passed by the Federation Council on 27 June 2013,[9] and signed into law by President Vladimir Putin on 30 June 2013.[6]

Anti-LGBT law
Federal Assembly
  • For the Purpose of Protecting Children from Information Advocating a Denial of Traditional Family Values
Signed byPresident Vladimir Putin
Signed30 June 2013
Legislative history
Introduced byYelena Mizulina (SR)
First reading11 June 2013 (State Duma)
Second reading27 June 2013 (Federation Council)
Related legislation
On Protecting Children from Information Harmful to Their Health and Development
Summary
Censors information about the existence of the LGBT community
Keywords
Censorship
LGBT rights in Russia
Status: In force

The stated purpose of the Russian government for the law is to prevent the presentation of the LGBT community as a normal part of Russian society under the argument that LGBT rights in Russia contradict traditional Russian values. The statute amended the Russian law On Protecting Children from Information Harmful to Their Health and Development and the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Offenses, to prohibit the distribution of "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships" among minors. This definition includes materials that "raises interest in" such relationships, cause minors to "form non-traditional sexual predispositions", or "[present] distorted ideas about the equal social value of traditional and non-traditional sexual relationships." Businesses and organizations can also be forced to temporarily cease operations if convicted under the law, and foreign nationals may be arrested and detained for up to 15 days then deported, or fined up to 5,000 rubles and deported.

The support of the Russian government for the law appealed to social conservatives, religious conservatives, and Russian nationalists. The law was condemned by the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe (of which Russia was a member of at the time of the enactment of the law), by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child and by human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. The statute was criticized for its broad and ambiguous wording (including the aforementioned "raises interest in" and "among minors"), which many critics characterized as being an effective ban on publicly promoting LGBT culture and LGBT rights. The law was also criticized for leading to an increase and justification of homophobic violence,[10] while the implications of the laws in relation to the then-upcoming Winter Olympics being hosted by Sochi were also cause for concern, as the Olympic Charter contains language explicitly barring various forms of discrimination.

In December 2022, an amendment to the law was signed into law by Putin, prohibiting the distribution of "propaganda of non-traditional relationships" among any age group. It also prohibits the distribution of materials that promote gender dysphoria among minors.

Background edit

 
Yelena Mizulina, author of the law

Despite the fact that the cities of Moscow and Saint Petersburg have been well known for their thriving LGBT communities, there has been growing opposition towards gay rights among politicians since 2006.[11] The city of Moscow has actively refused to authorize gay pride parades, and former Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov supported the city's refusal to authorize the first two Moscow Pride events, describing them as "satanic" and blaming western groups for spreading "this kind of enlightenment" in the country.[12][13][14] Social democratic Fair Russia member of parliament Alexander Chuev was also opposed to gay rights and attempted to introduce a similar "propaganda" law in 2007. In response, prominent LGBT rights activist and Moscow Pride founder Nikolay Alexeyev disclosed on the television talk show К барьеру! that Chuev had been publicly involved in same-sex relationships prior to his time in office.[15]

In 2010, Russia was fined by the European Court of Human Rights under allegations by Alexeyev that cities were discriminating against gays by refusing to approve pride parades. Although claiming a risk of violence, the court interpreted the decisions as being in support of groups which oppose such demonstrations.[16] In March 2012, a Russian judge blocked the establishment of a Pride House in Sochi for the 2014 Winter Olympics, ruling that it would "undermine the security of Russian society", and that it contradicted with public morality and policies "in the area of family motherhood and childhood protection."[17] In August 2012, Moscow upheld a ruling blocking Nikolay Alexeyev's requests for 100 years' worth of permission to hold Moscow Pride annually, citing the possibility of public disorder.[18][19]

The bill "On Protecting Children from Information Harmful to Their Health and Development" introduced laws which prohibited the distribution of "harmful" material among minors. This includes content which "may elicit fear, horror, or panic in children" among minors, pornography, along with materials which glorify violence, unlawful activities, substance abuse, or self-harm. An amendment to the law passed in 2012 instituted a mandatory content rating system for material distributed through an "information and telecommunication network" (covering television and the internet), and established a blacklist for censoring websites which contain child pornography or content glorifying drug abuse and suicide.[20][21][22][23][24]

The 2013 amendment, which added "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships" as a class of harmful content under the law was, according to the Government of Russia, intended to protect children from being exposed to content that portrays homosexuality as being a "behavioural norm". Emphasis was placed upon a goal to protect "traditional" family values; bill author Yelena Mizulina (the chair of the Duma's Committee on Family, Women, and Children, who has been described by some as a "moral crusader"),[8][25][26] argued that "traditional" relations between a man and a woman required special protection under Russian law.[6][24][27][28] The amendment also expanded upon similar laws enacted by several Russian regions, including Ryazan, Arkhangelsk (who repealed its law shortly after the passing of the federal version), and Saint Petersburg.[29]

Mark Gevisser writes that the Kremlin's backing of the law was reflective of a "dramatic tilt toward homophobia" in Russia that began in the years preceding the law's passage.[30] Gevisser writes that the law's passage allowed the Russian government to find "common ground" with the nationalist far right, and also appeal to the many Russians who view "homosexuality as a sign of encroaching decadence in a globalized era."[30] He writes: "Many Russians feel they can steady themselves against this cultural tsunami by laying claim to 'traditional values,' of which rejection of homosexuality is the easiest shorthand. This message plays particularly well for a government wishing to mobilize against demographic decline (childless homosexuals are evil) and cozy up to the Russian Orthodox Church (homosexuals with children are evil)."[30] Human Rights Watch noted that Putin's enactment of the law allowed him to pander to socially conservative voters at home and "position Russia as a champion of so-called 'traditional values'" on the global stage.[31]

Contents edit

Article 1 of the bill amended On Protecting Children from Information Harmful to Their Health and Development with a provision classifying "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships" as a class of materials that must not be distributed among minors. The term is defined as materials that are "[aimed] at causing minors to form non-traditional sexual predispositions, notions of attractiveness of non-traditional sexual relationships, distorted ideas about the equal social value of traditional and non-traditional sexual relationships, or imposing information about non-traditional sexual relationships which raises interest in such relationships insofar as these acts do not amount to a criminal offence."

Article 2 makes similar amendments to "On basic guarantees for the rights of the child in the Russian Federation", commanding the government to protect children from such material.[24]

Article 3 of the bill amended the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Offenses with Article 6.21, which prescribes penalties for violations of the propaganda ban: Russian citizens found guilty can receive fines of up to 5,000 rubles, and public officials can receive fines of up to 50,000 rubles. Organizations or businesses can be fined up to 1 million rubles and be forced to cease operations for up to 90 days. Foreigners may be arrested and detained for up to 15 days then deported, or fined up to 5,000 rubles and deported. The fines for individuals are much higher if the offense was committed using mass media or internet.[24]

Reaction edit

 
Activists painted the pedestrian pavement in front of the Russian Embassy in Finland with rainbow colours to protest against Russian's anti-LGBT sentiment and legislation.

According to a survey conducted in June 2013 by the state-owned All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion (also known as VTsIOM), at least 90 percent of Russians surveyed were in favour of the law.[11] Over 100 conservative groups worldwide signed a petition in support for the law, with Larry Jacobs, manager of the World Congress of Families, supporting its aim to "prohibit advocacy aimed at involving minors in a lifestyle that would imperil their physical and moral health."[32] President of Russia Vladimir Putin answered to early objections to the then-proposed bill in April 2013 by stating that "I want everyone to understand that in Russia there are no infringements on sexual minorities' rights. They're people, just like everyone else, and they enjoy full rights and freedoms".[33] He went on to say that he fully intended to sign the bill because the Russian people demanded it.[27] As he put it, "Can you imagine an organization promoting pedophilia in Russia? I think people in many Russian regions would have started to take up arms.... The same is true for sexual minorities: I can hardly imagine same-sex marriages being allowed in Chechnya. Can you imagine it? It would have resulted in human casualties."[27] Putin also mentioned that he was concerned about Russia's low birth rate, as same-sex relationships do not produce children.[34] In August 2013, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko also defended the law, equating it to protecting children from content that glorifies alcohol abuse or drug addiction. He also argued that the controversy over the law and its effects was "invented" by the Western media.[35]

Criticism edit

The passing of the law was met with major international backlash, especially from the Western world, as critics considered it an attempt to effectively ban the promotion of LGBT rights and culture in the country. Article 19 disputed the claimed intent of the law, and felt that many of the terms used within were too ambiguous, such as the aforementioned "non-traditional sexual relationships", and "raises interest in". The organization argued that it "feasibly could apply to any information regarding sexual orientation or gender identity that does not fit with what the State considers as in-line with 'tradition'." The term "among minors" was also criticized as being ambiguous, since it is unclear whether it refers to being in the presence of minors, or any place where minors could be present. They argued that "predicting the presence of children in any space, on-line or off-line, is quite impossible and is a variable that the proponent of any expression will rarely be in absolute control of."[24]

The law was condemned by human rights groups such as Amnesty International[36][37] and Human Rights Watch.[38][31] UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon indirectly criticized the law.[39] LGBT rights activists, human rights activists, and other critics stated that the broad and vague wording of the law, which was characterized as a ban on gay propaganda by the media, made it a crime to publicly make statements or distribute materials in support of LGBT rights, hold pride parades or similar demonstrations,[40] state that gay relationships are equal to heterosexual relationships, or according to Human Rights Campaign (HRC) president Chad Griffin, even display LGBT symbols such as the rainbow flag or kiss a same-sex partner in public.[5][27][41][42] The first arrest made under the law involved a person who publicly protested with a sign containing a pro-LGBT message.[43]

The legislation reportedly led to an increase in violence against LGBT people in Russia.[44] Russian LGBT Network chairman Igor Kochetkov argued that the law "[has] essentially legalised violence against LGBT people, because these groups of hooligans justify their actions with these laws," supported by their belief that gays and lesbians are "not valued as a social group" by the federal government. Reports surfaced of activity by groups such as 'Occupy Paedophilia' and 'Parents of Russia', who lured alleged "paedophiles" into "dates" where they were tortured and humiliated.[10] In August 2013, it was reported that a gay teenager was kidnapped, tortured, and killed by a group of Russian Neo-Nazis. Violence also increased during pro-gay demonstrations; on 29 July 2013, a gay pride demonstration at Saint Petersburg's Field of Mars resulted in a violent clash between activists, protesters, and police.[45][46][47]

 
  Laws restricting freedom of expression and association.
Same-sex intercourse illegal:
  Death penalty
  Death penalty on books but not applied
  Up to life in prison
  Imprisonment
  Prison on books but not enforced

In January 2014, a letter, co-written by chemist Sir Harry Kroto and actor Sir Ian McKellen and co-signed by 27 Nobel laureates from the fields of science and the arts, was sent to Vladimir Putin urging him to repeal the propaganda law as it "inhibits the freedom of local and foreign LGBT communities."[48] In February 2014, the activist group Queer Nation announced a planned protest in New York City outside the Russian consulate on 6 February 2014, timed to coincide with the opening ceremonies of the 2014 Winter Olympics.[49] The same day, gay rights group All Out similarly coordinated worldwide protests in London, New York City, Paris, and Rio de Janeiro.[50] On 8 February 2014, a flash mob was held in Cambridge, England, featuring same-sex couples embracing and hugging, as part of a video project known as "From Russia With Love".[51]

The TV documentary Stephen Fry: Out There explored gay rights and homophobia in numerous countries in the world, including Russia.[52] In it, Stephen Fry interviews a lesbian couple who discuss their fears that simply being out to their 16-year-old daughter and her friends could be taken as breaking this law,[53][54] due to the law's prohibition "on anyone disseminating information about homosexuality to under 18s".[55] The LGBT news magazine The Advocate described the law as criminalising "any positive discussion of LGBT people, identities, or issues in forums that might be accessible to minors. In practice, the law has given police broad license to interpret almost any mention of being LGBT—whether uttered, printed, or signified by waving a rainbow flag—as just cause to arrest LGBT people."[56] The US State Department in its 2013 report on human rights in Russia noted the clarification from Roskomnadzor (the Russian Federal Service for Supervision in the Sphere of Telecom, Information Technologies and Mass Communications) that the "gay propaganda" prohibited under the law includes materials which "directly or indirectly approve of people who are in nontraditional sexual relationships."[57] One couple interviewed by Fry said: "Of course we are afraid because we really don't know what's going to happen next in the country. ... You just don't know if they can incarcerate you tomorrow for something or not."[53] Fry also interviewed politician Vitaly Milonov, the original proponent of the law, whose attempts to defend it have been strongly criticized;[52][54] Milonov responded branding Fry as "sick"[58] for making a suicide attempt while filming the documentary[59] in an interview in which he also compared homosexuality with bestiality.[58]

Incompatibility with the European Convention of Human Rights edit

There is a general consensus that the law violates the European Convention of Human Rights, which Russia ratified.[60] In the 2017 case Bayev and Others v. Russia brought by three Russian LGBT activists following their convictions under local anti-propaganda laws, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the laws in question violated the applicants' freedom of speech and right not to be discriminated against in the exercise of Convention rights. The court found that "the authorities reinforce[d] stigma and prejudice and encourage[d] homophobia, which is incompatible with the notions of equality, pluralism and tolerance in a democratic society".[61]

The Council of Europe's advisory body on constitutional law, the Venice Commission, passed a resolution in 2013 stating that bans on "propaganda of homosexuality" "are incompatible with ECHR and international human rights standards" for several reasons. First, these bans were worded too vaguely to satisfy the requirement in Article 10 ECHR that limits on freedom of expression must be "prescribed by law". Second, "homosexuality as a variation of sexual orientation, is protected under the ECHR and as such, cannot be deemed contrary to morals by public authorities, in the sense of Article 10 § 2 of The ECHR". Third, the laws only target "propaganda of homosexuality" but not "propaganda of heterosexuality", which amounts to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation under Article 14 ECHR.[62]

Effects on the level of hate crime against LGBTQ edit

Hate crimes became more prevalent as a direct consequence of the "gay propaganda law". Across the country, numerous individuals, sometimes with implicit support from authorities, engaged in acts of violence against LGBTQ individuals. Some of those individuals organized hate groups that viewed the elimination of LGBTQ individuals as a means of restoring societal order.[63]

The Russian government does not officially record hate crimes against the LGBTQ community, perpetuating a narrative that such individuals do not exist. Instead, authorities make statements such as "We don't have those kinds of people here. We don't have any gays. You cannot kill those who do not exist".[64]

Overall, the number of crimes perpetrated on an annual basis since the enactment of the "gay propaganda" law has been three times higher than prior to the law. This has been reported by a number of research projects and NGOs (two Russian NGOs—LGBT Initiative Group Stimul and SOVA Center and two international organization—OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights – ODIHR).[65][66][67] In addition to this quantitative change, crimes against LGBTQ people have changed qualitatively: since the 2013 law, not only have they have become more violent, more often premeditated and more often committed by a group of perpetrators.[68]

 
Number of hate crimes against LGBTQ individuals in Russia (2010–2020)[67]

The increase in the number of hate crimes edit

Between 2013 and 2018 there was an increase in the number of hate crimes against LGBTQ people. Such crimes existed before 2013, but the level of violence increased significantly after the introduction of the discriminatory legislation. The increase was recorded in the following year,[69] and it remained on a higher level throughout the decade.[67] It was reported that between 2010 and 2020 there were 1056 hate crimes committed against 853 individuals, with 365 fatalities. The number of crimes after the "gay propaganda" law was enacted is three times higher than before (46 in 2010 compared to 138 in 2015).[67]

These incidents include violent attacks, murders, threats, destruction of property, robberies and others.[67]


After 2013 the crimes against gay people became more violent—research shows that 67% of hate crime incidents have indications of "extreme violence".[67]

Additionally, the crimes became more elaborate, there were more premeditated crimes, committed with preparation (oftentimes by a group of perpetrators with a purposeful selection of a homosexual target)—for three years in a row (2017, 2018, 2019) there was an increase in organized hate crimes against LGBTQ people, attributed to the activity of homophobic hate groups.[67] In most of the cases those hate groups used dating apps and websites in order to "hunt" homosexuals. Those attacks would oftentimes include physical abuse and harassment, the videos of attacks are disseminated on the Internet.[70][71]

One of the most prevalent hate group—Occupy Pedophilia became very active in the aftermath of "the gay propaganda law". Launched by Maxim Martsinkevich, a.k.a. Tesak, at the peak of its activity it was present in 40 regions of Russia.[70] The ideology of this hate group was described in Tesak's book Restruct (2012), where he specifically addresses homosexuality, stating that it "cannot be cured" and therefore needs to be exterminated:

Restrukt [Tesak's follower] is heterosexual. In all his actions, he relies on the laws of nature, therefore he does not allow any tolerance for homosexuals. He hates them, like all other vices. However, this one, unlike some of the others, cannot be cured. There might be former smokers and former alcoholics, but there cannot be former faggots[63]

Between 2010 and 2020 the research identified 205 cases of hate crimes committed by various homophobic hate groups. Moreover, the introduction of the "gay propaganda law" had a noticeable effect on this—the number of cases grew from 2 in 2010 to 38 in 2014. Many of those crimes are committed by Tesak, his followers or copycat movements.[63]

Protests edit

A number of protests were held against the law, both locally and internationally. Activists demonstrated outside New York City's Lincoln Center at the opening night of the Metropolitan Opera on 23 September 2013, which was set to feature Tchaikovsky's opera Eugene Onegin. The protests targeted Tchaikovsky's own homosexuality, and the involvement of two Russians in the production; soprano Anna Netrebko and conductor Valery Gergiev, as they were identified as vocal supporters of Putin's government.[72][73]

On 12 October 2013, the day following National Coming Out Day, a protest organized by at least 15 activists was held in Saint Petersburg. The protest site was occupied by a large number of demonstrators, some of whom were dressed as Russian Orthodox priests and Cossacks.[74] In total, 67 protestors were arrested for creating a public disturbance.[75]

Activists also called for a boycott of Stolichnaya vodka, who had prominently branded itself as a Russian vodka (going as far as to dub itself "[the] Mother of All Vodkas from The Motherland of Vodka" in an ad campaign). However, its Luxembourg-based parent company, Soiuzplodoimport, responded to the boycott effort, noting that the company was not technically Russian, did not support the government's opinion on homosexuality, and described itself as a "fervent supporter and friend" of LGBT people.[76]

Proposed similar laws in Kyrgyzstan edit

In 2014, a bill modeled after the Russian anti-gay law was proposed in the parliament of Kyrgyzstan; the measure, which "drew a welter of criticism from multiple rights groups, governments, the United Nations Human Rights Council and the European parliament," would provide for even harsher penalties than the Russian law.[77] The bill passed its first two readings by wide margins (79–7 and then 90–2) but faltered after two of the legislation's lead sponsors failed to win reelection.[77][78] In 2016, the legislation was again raised in parliament, but was held up in subcommittee.[77]

Prosecutions and other effects edit

The first arrest made under the propaganda law occurred just hours after it was passed: 24-year-old activist Dmitry Isakov was arrested in Kazan for publicly holding a sign reading "Freedom to the Gays and Lesbians of Russia. Down With Fascists and Homophobes", and ultimately fined 4,000 rubles (US$115). Isakov had performed a similar protest in the same location the previous day as a "test" run, but was later caught in an altercation with police officers who targeted his pro-gay activism, and arrested him for swearing. He would be released without charge, but pledged to return there the next day to show that he would "not be cowed by such pressure." Isakov also claimed that he had been fired from his job at a bank as a result of the conviction.[43][79]

In December 2013, Nikolay Alexeyev and Yaroslav Yevtushenko were fined 4,000 rubles for picketing outside a children's library in Arkhangelsk with banners reading, "Gays aren't made, they're born!" Their appeal was denied.[80]

In January 2014, Alexander Suturin, editor-in-chief of the Khabarovsk newspaper Molodoi Dalnevostochnik, was fined 50,000 rubles (US$1,400) for publishing a news story discussing the teacher Alexander Yermoshkin, who had been fired for self-admittedly holding "rainbow flash mobs" in Khabarovsk with his students, and was subsequently attacked by right-wing extremists because of his sexuality. The fine centred around a quote in the article by the teacher, who stated that his very existence was "effective proof that homosexuality is normal."[81][82][83]

Elena Klimova has been charged under the law multiple times for operating Children-404—an online support group for LGBT youth on the social networking services VKontakte and Facebook. The first of these charges was overturned in February 2014, after a court ruled in consultation with a mental health professional that the group "helps teenagers exploring their sexuality to deal with difficult emotional issues and other problems that they may encounter", and that these activities did not constitute "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships" as defined under the law.[84][85] In January 2015, Klimova was sent to court for the same charges. They were overturned on appeal, only for the same court to convict Kilmova and issue a fine of 50,000 rubles in July 2015, pending an appeal.[86]

In November 2014, one day after current Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook publicly announced that he was proud of being gay,[87] it was reported that an iPhone-shaped memorial honoring its late co-founder Steve Jobs had been removed from a Saint Petersburg university campus by its installer, the West European Financial Union (ZEFS). It was alleged that the memorial was removed due to the law because it was in an area frequented by minors.[88] In September 2015, Apple became the subject of an investigation by officials in Kirov for implementing emoji on its operating systems which depict same-sex relationships, over whether they may constitute a promotion of non-traditional sexual relationships to minors.[89] Roskomnadzor later ruled that by themselves, emoji depicting same-sex couples did not constitute a violation of the propaganda law, as whether they have a positive or negative connotation depends on their actual context and usage.[90]

In March 2018, Roskomnadzor ordered the prominent website Gay.ru to be blocked in the country due to the law.[91][92][93]

Effects on sports edit

 
 
Emma Green Tregaro (pictured in 2011) and Moa Hjelmer (pictured in 2007) were among the first athletes to make prominent statements against the law.

The 2013 World Championships in Athletics, held at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium in August 2013, were overshadowed by comments and protests over the law by athletes. After winning a silver medal at the event, U.S. runner Nick Symmonds stated that "whether you're gay, straight, black, white, we all deserve the same rights. If there's anything I can do to champion the cause and further it, I will, shy of getting arrested."[94] Swedish athletes Emma Green Tregaro and Moa Hjelmer painted their fingernails in rainbow colors as a symbolic protest.[95] However, Tregaro was forced to re-paint them after they were deemed a political gesture that violated the rules of the IAAF. In response, she re-painted them red as a symbol of love.[96] Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva criticized Tregaro's gesture as being disrespectful to the host country, stating in a press conference that "we have our law which everyone has to respect. When we go to different countries, we try to follow their rules. We are not trying to set our rules over there. We are just trying to be respectful." After Isinbayeva's remarks attracted widespread criticism, she argued that her choice of words had been "misunderstood" due to poor English.[97]

The implications of the law on Russia's hosting of two major international sporting events, the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi (where seven LGBT athletes, all female, were expected to compete)[98] and the 2018 FIFA World Cup, were called into question. In the case of the World Cup, FIFA had recently established an anti-discrimination task force, and was also facing criticism for awarding the 2022 World Cup to the country of Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal;[99] in August 2013, FIFA requested information from the Russian government on the law and its potential effects on the association football tournament.[94] In the case of the Winter Olympics, critics considered the law to be inconsistent with the Olympic Charter, which states that "[discrimination] on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement."[100] In August 2013, the International Olympic Committee "received assurances from the highest level of government in Russia that the legislation will not affect those attending or taking part in the Games", and also received word that the government would abide by the Olympic Charter.[101][102] The IOC also confirmed that it would enforce Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter, which forbids political protest, against athletes who make displays of support for the LGBT community at the Games.[103] Vladimir Putin also made similar assurances prior to the Games, but warned LGBT attendees that they would still be subject to the law.[104]

Athletes and supporters used the Olympics as leverage for further campaigns against the propaganda law. A number of athletes came out as lesbian, gay, or bisexual to spread awareness of the situation in Russia, including Australian snowboarder Belle Brockhoff,[105] Canadian speed skater Anastasia Bucsis,[106] gold medal figure skater Brian Boitano,[107] and Finnish swimmer Ari-Pekka Liukkonen.[108] There were also calls to boycott the Games, drawing comparisons to the Summer Olympics of 1980 in Moscow, the last time the Olympics were held on what is now Russian soil.[5] A campaign known as Principle 6 was established in collaboration between a group of Olympic athletes, the organizations All Out and Athlete Ally, and clothing maker American Apparel, selling merchandise (such as clothing) with a quotation from the Olympic Charter to support pro-LGBT organizations.[109] Toronto advertising copywriter Brahm Finkelstein also began to market a rainbow-coloured matryoshka doll set known as "Pride Dolls", designed by Italian artist Danilo Santino, to benefit the Gay and Lesbian International Sport Association, organizers of the World Outgames.[110][111]

Action was leveraged directly against Olympic sponsors and partners as well; in late-August 2013, the Human Rights Campaign sent letters to the ten Worldwide Olympic Partner companies, urging them to show opposition towards anti-LGBT laws, denounce homophobic violence, ask the IOC to obtain written commitments for the safety of LGBT athletes and attendees, and oppose future Olympic bids from countries that outlaw support for LGBT equality.[112] In February 2014, prior to the games, a group of 40 human rights organizations (including Athlete Ally, Freedom House, Human Rights Campaign, Human Rights Watch and Russian LGBT Network among others) also sent a joint letter to the Worldwide Olympic Partners, urging them to use their prominence to support the rights of LGBT athletes under the Olympic Charter, and pressure the IOC to show greater scrutiny towards the human rights abuses of future host countries.[113][114] On 3 February 2014, USOC sponsor AT&T issued a statement in support of LGBT rights at the Games, becoming the first major Olympic advertiser to condemn the laws.[115] Several major non-sponsors also made pro-LGBT statements to coincide with the opening of the Games; Google placed a quotation from the Olympic Charter and an Olympic-themed logo in the colours of the rainbow flag on its home page worldwide,[116] while Channel 4 (who serves as the official British broadcaster of the Paralympics) adopted a rainbow-coloured logo and broadcast a "celebratory", pro-LGBT advert entitled "Gay Mountain" on 7 February 2014, alongside an interview with former rugby union player and anti-homophobia activist Ben Cohen. As part of its Dispatches series, Channel 4 had also broadcast a documentary during the week of the Opening Ceremony entitled Hunted, which documented the violence and abuse against LGBT people in Russia in the wake of the law.[10][117][118]

Effects on video games edit

In May 2014, it was revealed that in accordance with the propaganda law, the computer game The Sims 4—a new installment in a life simulation game franchise published by Electronic Arts which has historically allowed characters to participate in same-sex relationships, and allowed players to give their characters a customised gender, had been given an "18+" rating, restricting its sale to adults only. In contrast, the pan-European ratings board PEGI has historically rated The Sims games as being suitable for those aged 12 and over.[119][120][121]

In December 2016, the video game FIFA 17 (which is also published by Electronic Arts) was targeted for an event that allowed users to obtain rainbow-coloured shoelaces for their virtual footballers, in support of a pro-LGBT advocacy campaign backed by the English Premier League. MP Irina Rodnina stated that relevant authorities needed to "verify the possibility of distributing this game on the territory of the Russian Federation".[122]

In December 2016, Blizzard Entertainment geo-blocked a tie-in web comic for its game Overwatch in Russia for containing a scene of the character Tracer, who was confirmed as being lesbian, kissing her partner, another woman. Blizzard cited the gay propaganda law as reasoning for the block. The game itself is not blocked in the country.[123][124]

In February 2021, Miitopia received an 18+ rating due to the ability of same-sex Miis being able to form "relationships" with each other despite no actual sexual content whatsoever being present in the game.[125]

Expansion of the propaganda law edit

In July 2022, Communist politician Nina Ostanina co-sponsored a bill that would ban "the denial of family values" and the promotion of "non-traditional sexual orientations." In an interview, she further stated that "a traditional family is a union of a man and woman, it’s children, it’s a multi-generational family."[126][127][128]

In September 2022, at a political ceremony in which Russia formally annexed regions of Ukraine, Putin said: "Do we really want to have here, in our country, in Russia, 'Parent No. 1, No. 2, No. 3' instead of 'mom' and 'dad?' Do we really want perversions that lead to degradation and extinction to be imposed in our schools from the primary grades?"[129]

On 27 October 2022, the State Duma unanimously passed a proposed bill that expands the gay propaganda law to cover any age group, instead of only minors. The bill also adds materials that give minors a "desire to change their sex", or constitute the promotion of "paedophilia", to the categories of materials covered by the law.[130][131][132] The bill was unanimously passed by the Federation Council on 2 December 2022 and signed into law by Putin on 5 December 2022.[133]

Deputy Secretary of the General Council of Putin's United Russia, Alexander Khinshtein, is one of the architects of anti-LGBT legislation that widens a prohibition of "LGBT propaganda" and restricts the "demonstration" of LGBT behaviour, saying, "LGBT today is an element of hybrid warfare and in this hybrid warfare we must protect our values, our society and our children."[134]

Supporters of the bill consider it as a response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, seeking to protect the country from influence and indoctrination by liberal Western values. Konstantin Malofeev argued that "our enemy holds the propaganda of sodomy as the core of its influence". The bill has faced criticism from LGBT rights groups and other parties, who consider it to be a blanket ban on any pro-LGBT activity, and warned that it could result in the ban or censorship of advertising, films, and literature that include LGBT themes. It was also criticised for falsely conflating homosexuality with pedophilia.[130][131][132]

See also edit

 
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Federal Law of 29 June 2013 No. 135-ФЗ

Notes edit

References edit

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    IRINA (in Russian): Of course we are afraid because we really don't know what's going to happen next in the country. There is even aggression in the streets and it is getting worse.
    OLGA (in Russian): We are living in a very difficult period of time historically.
    IRINA (in Russian):You just don't know if they can incarcerate you tomorrow for something or not.
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Further reading edit

  • Hylton, Emily; Wirtz, Andrea L.; Zelaya, Carla E.; Latkin, Carl; Peryshkina, Alena; Mogilnyi, Vladmir; Dzhigun, Petr; Kostetskaya, Irina; Galai, Noya; Beyrer, Chris (2017). "Sexual Identity, Stigma, and Depression: the Role of the "Anti-gay Propaganda Law" in Mental Health among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Moscow, Russia". Journal of Urban Health. 94 (3): 319–329. doi:10.1007/s11524-017-0133-6. PMC 5481210. PMID 28243868.
  • Kondakov, Alexander; Shtorn, Evgeny (2021). "Sex, Alcohol, and Soul: Violent Reactions to Coming Out after the "Gay Propaganda" Law in Russia". The Russian Review. 80 (1): 37–55. doi:10.1111/russ.12297. hdl:10138/338525. S2CID 234194944.
  • Kondakov, Alexander (2021). "The influence of the 'gay-propaganda' law on violence against LGBTIQ people in Russia: Evidence from criminal court rulings". European Journal of Criminology. 18 (6): 940–959. doi:10.1177/1477370819887511. S2CID 210497632.
  • Moss, Kevin (2021). "Russia's Queer Science, or How Anti‐LGBT Scholarship is Made". The Russian Review. 80 (1): 17–36. doi:10.1111/russ.12296. S2CID 234307412.
  • Utkin, Roman (2021). "Queer Vulnerability and Russian Poetry after the "Gay Propaganda" Law". The Russian Review. 80 (1): 77–99. doi:10.1111/russ.12299. S2CID 234327909.

January 01, 1970
russian, anti, lgbt, purpose, protecting, children, from, information, advocating, denial, traditional, family, values, commonly, known, russian, anti, russia, unanimously, passed, state, duma, june, 2013, with, only, member, abstaining, ilya, ponomarev, unani. For the Purpose of Protecting Children from Information Advocating a Denial of Traditional Family Values commonly known as the Russian anti LGBT law 1 2 3 4 or as the Russian anti gay law 5 6 7 8 is a law of Russia It was unanimously passed by the State Duma on 11 June 2013 with only one member abstaining Ilya Ponomarev 7 unanimously passed by the Federation Council on 27 June 2013 9 and signed into law by President Vladimir Putin on 30 June 2013 6 Anti LGBT lawFederal AssemblyLong title For the Purpose of Protecting Children from Information Advocating a Denial of Traditional Family ValuesSigned byPresident Vladimir PutinSigned30 June 2013Legislative historyIntroduced byYelena Mizulina SR First reading11 June 2013 State Duma Second reading27 June 2013 Federation Council Related legislationOn Protecting Children from Information Harmful to Their Health and DevelopmentSummaryCensors information about the existence of the LGBT communityKeywordsCensorshipLGBT rights in RussiaStatus In force The stated purpose of the Russian government for the law is to prevent the presentation of the LGBT community as a normal part of Russian society under the argument that LGBT rights in Russia contradict traditional Russian values The statute amended the Russian law On Protecting Children from Information Harmful to Their Health and Development and the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Offenses to prohibit the distribution of propaganda of non traditional sexual relationships among minors This definition includes materials that raises interest in such relationships cause minors to form non traditional sexual predispositions or present distorted ideas about the equal social value of traditional and non traditional sexual relationships Businesses and organizations can also be forced to temporarily cease operations if convicted under the law and foreign nationals may be arrested and detained for up to 15 days then deported or fined up to 5 000 rubles and deported The support of the Russian government for the law appealed to social conservatives religious conservatives and Russian nationalists The law was condemned by the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe of which Russia was a member of at the time of the enactment of the law by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child and by human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch The statute was criticized for its broad and ambiguous wording including the aforementioned raises interest in and among minors which many critics characterized as being an effective ban on publicly promoting LGBT culture and LGBT rights The law was also criticized for leading to an increase and justification of homophobic violence 10 while the implications of the laws in relation to the then upcoming Winter Olympics being hosted by Sochi were also cause for concern as the Olympic Charter contains language explicitly barring various forms of discrimination In December 2022 an amendment to the law was signed into law by Putin prohibiting the distribution of propaganda of non traditional relationships among any age group It also prohibits the distribution of materials that promote gender dysphoria among minors Contents 1 Background 2 Contents 3 Reaction 3 1 Criticism 3 2 Incompatibility with the European Convention of Human Rights 3 3 Effects on the level of hate crime against LGBTQ 3 3 1 The increase in the number of hate crimes 3 4 Protests 3 5 Proposed similar laws in Kyrgyzstan 3 6 Prosecutions and other effects 3 7 Effects on sports 3 8 Effects on video games 4 Expansion of the propaganda law 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References 8 Further readingBackground edit nbsp Yelena Mizulina author of the law Despite the fact that the cities of Moscow and Saint Petersburg have been well known for their thriving LGBT communities there has been growing opposition towards gay rights among politicians since 2006 11 The city of Moscow has actively refused to authorize gay pride parades and former Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov supported the city s refusal to authorize the first two Moscow Pride events describing them as satanic and blaming western groups for spreading this kind of enlightenment in the country 12 13 14 Social democratic Fair Russia member of parliament Alexander Chuev was also opposed to gay rights and attempted to introduce a similar propaganda law in 2007 In response prominent LGBT rights activist and Moscow Pride founder Nikolay Alexeyev disclosed on the television talk show K bareru that Chuev had been publicly involved in same sex relationships prior to his time in office 15 In 2010 Russia was fined by the European Court of Human Rights under allegations by Alexeyev that cities were discriminating against gays by refusing to approve pride parades Although claiming a risk of violence the court interpreted the decisions as being in support of groups which oppose such demonstrations 16 In March 2012 a Russian judge blocked the establishment of a Pride House in Sochi for the 2014 Winter Olympics ruling that it would undermine the security of Russian society and that it contradicted with public morality and policies in the area of family motherhood and childhood protection 17 In August 2012 Moscow upheld a ruling blocking Nikolay Alexeyev s requests for 100 years worth of permission to hold Moscow Pride annually citing the possibility of public disorder 18 19 The bill On Protecting Children from Information Harmful to Their Health and Development introduced laws which prohibited the distribution of harmful material among minors This includes content which may elicit fear horror or panic in children among minors pornography along with materials which glorify violence unlawful activities substance abuse or self harm An amendment to the law passed in 2012 instituted a mandatory content rating system for material distributed through an information and telecommunication network covering television and the internet and established a blacklist for censoring websites which contain child pornography or content glorifying drug abuse and suicide 20 21 22 23 24 The 2013 amendment which added propaganda of non traditional sexual relationships as a class of harmful content under the law was according to the Government of Russia intended to protect children from being exposed to content that portrays homosexuality as being a behavioural norm Emphasis was placed upon a goal to protect traditional family values bill author Yelena Mizulina the chair of the Duma s Committee on Family Women and Children who has been described by some as a moral crusader 8 25 26 argued that traditional relations between a man and a woman required special protection under Russian law 6 24 27 28 The amendment also expanded upon similar laws enacted by several Russian regions including Ryazan Arkhangelsk who repealed its law shortly after the passing of the federal version and Saint Petersburg 29 Mark Gevisser writes that the Kremlin s backing of the law was reflective of a dramatic tilt toward homophobia in Russia that began in the years preceding the law s passage 30 Gevisser writes that the law s passage allowed the Russian government to find common ground with the nationalist far right and also appeal to the many Russians who view homosexuality as a sign of encroaching decadence in a globalized era 30 He writes Many Russians feel they can steady themselves against this cultural tsunami by laying claim to traditional values of which rejection of homosexuality is the easiest shorthand This message plays particularly well for a government wishing to mobilize against demographic decline childless homosexuals are evil and cozy up to the Russian Orthodox Church homosexuals with children are evil 30 Human Rights Watch noted that Putin s enactment of the law allowed him to pander to socially conservative voters at home and position Russia as a champion of so called traditional values on the global stage 31 Contents editArticle 1 of the bill amended On Protecting Children from Information Harmful to Their Health and Development with a provision classifying propaganda of non traditional sexual relationships as a class of materials that must not be distributed among minors The term is defined as materials that are aimed at causing minors to form non traditional sexual predispositions notions of attractiveness of non traditional sexual relationships distorted ideas about the equal social value of traditional and non traditional sexual relationships or imposing information about non traditional sexual relationships which raises interest in such relationships insofar as these acts do not amount to a criminal offence Article 2 makes similar amendments to On basic guarantees for the rights of the child in the Russian Federation commanding the government to protect children from such material 24 Article 3 of the bill amended the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Offenses with Article 6 21 which prescribes penalties for violations of the propaganda ban Russian citizens found guilty can receive fines of up to 5 000 rubles and public officials can receive fines of up to 50 000 rubles Organizations or businesses can be fined up to 1 million rubles and be forced to cease operations for up to 90 days Foreigners may be arrested and detained for up to 15 days then deported or fined up to 5 000 rubles and deported The fines for individuals are much higher if the offense was committed using mass media or internet 24 Reaction edit nbsp Activists painted the pedestrian pavement in front of the Russian Embassy in Finland with rainbow colours to protest against Russian s anti LGBT sentiment and legislation According to a survey conducted in June 2013 by the state owned All Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion also known as VTsIOM at least 90 percent of Russians surveyed were in favour of the law 11 Over 100 conservative groups worldwide signed a petition in support for the law with Larry Jacobs manager of the World Congress of Families supporting its aim to prohibit advocacy aimed at involving minors in a lifestyle that would imperil their physical and moral health 32 President of Russia Vladimir Putin answered to early objections to the then proposed bill in April 2013 by stating that I want everyone to understand that in Russia there are no infringements on sexual minorities rights They re people just like everyone else and they enjoy full rights and freedoms 33 He went on to say that he fully intended to sign the bill because the Russian people demanded it 27 As he put it Can you imagine an organization promoting pedophilia in Russia I think people in many Russian regions would have started to take up arms The same is true for sexual minorities I can hardly imagine same sex marriages being allowed in Chechnya Can you imagine it It would have resulted in human casualties 27 Putin also mentioned that he was concerned about Russia s low birth rate as same sex relationships do not produce children 34 In August 2013 Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko also defended the law equating it to protecting children from content that glorifies alcohol abuse or drug addiction He also argued that the controversy over the law and its effects was invented by the Western media 35 Criticism edit The passing of the law was met with major international backlash especially from the Western world as critics considered it an attempt to effectively ban the promotion of LGBT rights and culture in the country Article 19 disputed the claimed intent of the law and felt that many of the terms used within were too ambiguous such as the aforementioned non traditional sexual relationships and raises interest in The organization argued that it feasibly could apply to any information regarding sexual orientation or gender identity that does not fit with what the State considers as in line with tradition The term among minors was also criticized as being ambiguous since it is unclear whether it refers to being in the presence of minors or any place where minors could be present They argued that predicting the presence of children in any space on line or off line is quite impossible and is a variable that the proponent of any expression will rarely be in absolute control of 24 The law was condemned by human rights groups such as Amnesty International 36 37 and Human Rights Watch 38 31 UN Secretary General Ban Ki moon indirectly criticized the law 39 LGBT rights activists human rights activists and other critics stated that the broad and vague wording of the law which was characterized as a ban on gay propaganda by the media made it a crime to publicly make statements or distribute materials in support of LGBT rights hold pride parades or similar demonstrations 40 state that gay relationships are equal to heterosexual relationships or according to Human Rights Campaign HRC president Chad Griffin even display LGBT symbols such as the rainbow flag or kiss a same sex partner in public 5 27 41 42 The first arrest made under the law involved a person who publicly protested with a sign containing a pro LGBT message 43 The legislation reportedly led to an increase in violence against LGBT people in Russia 44 Russian LGBT Network chairman Igor Kochetkov argued that the law has essentially legalised violence against LGBT people because these groups of hooligans justify their actions with these laws supported by their belief that gays and lesbians are not valued as a social group by the federal government Reports surfaced of activity by groups such as Occupy Paedophilia and Parents of Russia who lured alleged paedophiles into dates where they were tortured and humiliated 10 In August 2013 it was reported that a gay teenager was kidnapped tortured and killed by a group of Russian Neo Nazis Violence also increased during pro gay demonstrations on 29 July 2013 a gay pride demonstration at Saint Petersburg s Field of Mars resulted in a violent clash between activists protesters and police 45 46 47 nbsp Laws restricting freedom of expression and association Same sex intercourse illegal Death penalty Death penalty on books but not applied Up to life in prison Imprisonment Prison on books but not enforced In January 2014 a letter co written by chemist Sir Harry Kroto and actor Sir Ian McKellen and co signed by 27 Nobel laureates from the fields of science and the arts was sent to Vladimir Putin urging him to repeal the propaganda law as it inhibits the freedom of local and foreign LGBT communities 48 In February 2014 the activist group Queer Nation announced a planned protest in New York City outside the Russian consulate on 6 February 2014 timed to coincide with the opening ceremonies of the 2014 Winter Olympics 49 The same day gay rights group All Out similarly coordinated worldwide protests in London New York City Paris and Rio de Janeiro 50 On 8 February 2014 a flash mob was held in Cambridge England featuring same sex couples embracing and hugging as part of a video project known as From Russia With Love 51 The TV documentary Stephen Fry Out There explored gay rights and homophobia in numerous countries in the world including Russia 52 In it Stephen Fry interviews a lesbian couple who discuss their fears that simply being out to their 16 year old daughter and her friends could be taken as breaking this law 53 54 due to the law s prohibition on anyone disseminating information about homosexuality to under 18s 55 The LGBT news magazine The Advocate described the law as criminalising any positive discussion of LGBT people identities or issues in forums that might be accessible to minors In practice the law has given police broad license to interpret almost any mention of being LGBT whether uttered printed or signified by waving a rainbow flag as just cause to arrest LGBT people 56 The US State Department in its 2013 report on human rights in Russia noted the clarification from Roskomnadzor the Russian Federal Service for Supervision in the Sphere of Telecom Information Technologies and Mass Communications that the gay propaganda prohibited under the law includes materials which directly or indirectly approve of people who are in nontraditional sexual relationships 57 One couple interviewed by Fry said Of course we are afraid because we really don t know what s going to happen next in the country You just don t know if they can incarcerate you tomorrow for something or not 53 Fry also interviewed politician Vitaly Milonov the original proponent of the law whose attempts to defend it have been strongly criticized 52 54 Milonov responded branding Fry as sick 58 for making a suicide attempt while filming the documentary 59 in an interview in which he also compared homosexuality with bestiality 58 Incompatibility with the European Convention of Human Rights edit There is a general consensus that the law violates the European Convention of Human Rights which Russia ratified 60 In the 2017 case Bayev and Others v Russia brought by three Russian LGBT activists following their convictions under local anti propaganda laws the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the laws in question violated the applicants freedom of speech and right not to be discriminated against in the exercise of Convention rights The court found that the authorities reinforce d stigma and prejudice and encourage d homophobia which is incompatible with the notions of equality pluralism and tolerance in a democratic society 61 The Council of Europe s advisory body on constitutional law the Venice Commission passed a resolution in 2013 stating that bans on propaganda of homosexuality are incompatible with ECHR and international human rights standards for several reasons First these bans were worded too vaguely to satisfy the requirement in Article 10 ECHR that limits on freedom of expression must be prescribed by law Second homosexuality as a variation of sexual orientation is protected under the ECHR and as such cannot be deemed contrary to morals by public authorities in the sense of Article 10 2 of The ECHR Third the laws only target propaganda of homosexuality but not propaganda of heterosexuality which amounts to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation under Article 14 ECHR 62 Effects on the level of hate crime against LGBTQ edit Hate crimes became more prevalent as a direct consequence of the gay propaganda law Across the country numerous individuals sometimes with implicit support from authorities engaged in acts of violence against LGBTQ individuals Some of those individuals organized hate groups that viewed the elimination of LGBTQ individuals as a means of restoring societal order 63 The Russian government does not officially record hate crimes against the LGBTQ community perpetuating a narrative that such individuals do not exist Instead authorities make statements such as We don t have those kinds of people here We don t have any gays You cannot kill those who do not exist 64 Overall the number of crimes perpetrated on an annual basis since the enactment of the gay propaganda law has been three times higher than prior to the law This has been reported by a number of research projects and NGOs two Russian NGOs LGBT Initiative Group Stimul and SOVA Center and two international organization OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights ODIHR 65 66 67 In addition to this quantitative change crimes against LGBTQ people have changed qualitatively since the 2013 law not only have they have become more violent more often premeditated and more often committed by a group of perpetrators 68 nbsp Number of hate crimes against LGBTQ individuals in Russia 2010 2020 67 The increase in the number of hate crimes edit Between 2013 and 2018 there was an increase in the number of hate crimes against LGBTQ people Such crimes existed before 2013 but the level of violence increased significantly after the introduction of the discriminatory legislation The increase was recorded in the following year 69 and it remained on a higher level throughout the decade 67 It was reported that between 2010 and 2020 there were 1056 hate crimes committed against 853 individuals with 365 fatalities The number of crimes after the gay propaganda law was enacted is three times higher than before 46 in 2010 compared to 138 in 2015 67 These incidents include violent attacks murders threats destruction of property robberies and others 67 After 2013 the crimes against gay people became more violent research shows that 67 of hate crime incidents have indications of extreme violence 67 Additionally the crimes became more elaborate there were more premeditated crimes committed with preparation oftentimes by a group of perpetrators with a purposeful selection of a homosexual target for three years in a row 2017 2018 2019 there was an increase in organized hate crimes against LGBTQ people attributed to the activity of homophobic hate groups 67 In most of the cases those hate groups used dating apps and websites in order to hunt homosexuals Those attacks would oftentimes include physical abuse and harassment the videos of attacks are disseminated on the Internet 70 71 One of the most prevalent hate group Occupy Pedophilia became very active in the aftermath of the gay propaganda law Launched by Maxim Martsinkevich a k a Tesak at the peak of its activity it was present in 40 regions of Russia 70 The ideology of this hate group was described in Tesak s book Restruct 2012 where he specifically addresses homosexuality stating that it cannot be cured and therefore needs to be exterminated Restrukt Tesak s follower is heterosexual In all his actions he relies on the laws of nature therefore he does not allow any tolerance for homosexuals He hates them like all other vices However this one unlike some of the others cannot be cured There might be former smokers and former alcoholics but there cannot be former faggots 63 Between 2010 and 2020 the research identified 205 cases of hate crimes committed by various homophobic hate groups Moreover the introduction of the gay propaganda law had a noticeable effect on this the number of cases grew from 2 in 2010 to 38 in 2014 Many of those crimes are committed by Tesak his followers or copycat movements 63 Protests edit A number of protests were held against the law both locally and internationally Activists demonstrated outside New York City s Lincoln Center at the opening night of the Metropolitan Opera on 23 September 2013 which was set to feature Tchaikovsky s opera Eugene Onegin The protests targeted Tchaikovsky s own homosexuality and the involvement of two Russians in the production soprano Anna Netrebko and conductor Valery Gergiev as they were identified as vocal supporters of Putin s government 72 73 On 12 October 2013 the day following National Coming Out Day a protest organized by at least 15 activists was held in Saint Petersburg The protest site was occupied by a large number of demonstrators some of whom were dressed as Russian Orthodox priests and Cossacks 74 In total 67 protestors were arrested for creating a public disturbance 75 Activists also called for a boycott of Stolichnaya vodka who had prominently branded itself as a Russian vodka going as far as to dub itself the Mother of All Vodkas from The Motherland of Vodka in an ad campaign However its Luxembourg based parent company Soiuzplodoimport responded to the boycott effort noting that the company was not technically Russian did not support the government s opinion on homosexuality and described itself as a fervent supporter and friend of LGBT people 76 Proposed similar laws in Kyrgyzstan edit In 2014 a bill modeled after the Russian anti gay law was proposed in the parliament of Kyrgyzstan the measure which drew a welter of criticism from multiple rights groups governments the United Nations Human Rights Council and the European parliament would provide for even harsher penalties than the Russian law 77 The bill passed its first two readings by wide margins 79 7 and then 90 2 but faltered after two of the legislation s lead sponsors failed to win reelection 77 78 In 2016 the legislation was again raised in parliament but was held up in subcommittee 77 Prosecutions and other effects edit The first arrest made under the propaganda law occurred just hours after it was passed 24 year old activist Dmitry Isakov was arrested in Kazan for publicly holding a sign reading Freedom to the Gays and Lesbians of Russia Down With Fascists and Homophobes and ultimately fined 4 000 rubles US 115 Isakov had performed a similar protest in the same location the previous day as a test run but was later caught in an altercation with police officers who targeted his pro gay activism and arrested him for swearing He would be released without charge but pledged to return there the next day to show that he would not be cowed by such pressure Isakov also claimed that he had been fired from his job at a bank as a result of the conviction 43 79 In December 2013 Nikolay Alexeyev and Yaroslav Yevtushenko were fined 4 000 rubles for picketing outside a children s library in Arkhangelsk with banners reading Gays aren t made they re born Their appeal was denied 80 In January 2014 Alexander Suturin editor in chief of the Khabarovsk newspaper Molodoi Dalnevostochnik was fined 50 000 rubles US 1 400 for publishing a news story discussing the teacher Alexander Yermoshkin who had been fired for self admittedly holding rainbow flash mobs in Khabarovsk with his students and was subsequently attacked by right wing extremists because of his sexuality The fine centred around a quote in the article by the teacher who stated that his very existence was effective proof that homosexuality is normal 81 82 83 Elena Klimova has been charged under the law multiple times for operating Children 404 an online support group for LGBT youth on the social networking services VKontakte and Facebook The first of these charges was overturned in February 2014 after a court ruled in consultation with a mental health professional that the group helps teenagers exploring their sexuality to deal with difficult emotional issues and other problems that they may encounter and that these activities did not constitute propaganda of non traditional sexual relationships as defined under the law 84 85 In January 2015 Klimova was sent to court for the same charges They were overturned on appeal only for the same court to convict Kilmova and issue a fine of 50 000 rubles in July 2015 pending an appeal 86 In November 2014 one day after current Apple Inc CEO Tim Cook publicly announced that he was proud of being gay 87 it was reported that an iPhone shaped memorial honoring its late co founder Steve Jobs had been removed from a Saint Petersburg university campus by its installer the West European Financial Union ZEFS It was alleged that the memorial was removed due to the law because it was in an area frequented by minors 88 In September 2015 Apple became the subject of an investigation by officials in Kirov for implementing emoji on its operating systems which depict same sex relationships over whether they may constitute a promotion of non traditional sexual relationships to minors 89 Roskomnadzor later ruled that by themselves emoji depicting same sex couples did not constitute a violation of the propaganda law as whether they have a positive or negative connotation depends on their actual context and usage 90 In March 2018 Roskomnadzor ordered the prominent website Gay ru to be blocked in the country due to the law 91 92 93 Effects on sports edit nbsp nbsp Emma Green Tregaro pictured in 2011 and Moa Hjelmer pictured in 2007 were among the first athletes to make prominent statements against the law The 2013 World Championships in Athletics held at Moscow s Luzhniki Stadium in August 2013 were overshadowed by comments and protests over the law by athletes After winning a silver medal at the event U S runner Nick Symmonds stated that whether you re gay straight black white we all deserve the same rights If there s anything I can do to champion the cause and further it I will shy of getting arrested 94 Swedish athletes Emma Green Tregaro and Moa Hjelmer painted their fingernails in rainbow colors as a symbolic protest 95 However Tregaro was forced to re paint them after they were deemed a political gesture that violated the rules of the IAAF In response she re painted them red as a symbol of love 96 Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva criticized Tregaro s gesture as being disrespectful to the host country stating in a press conference that we have our law which everyone has to respect When we go to different countries we try to follow their rules We are not trying to set our rules over there We are just trying to be respectful After Isinbayeva s remarks attracted widespread criticism she argued that her choice of words had been misunderstood due to poor English 97 The implications of the law on Russia s hosting of two major international sporting events the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi where seven LGBT athletes all female were expected to compete 98 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup were called into question In the case of the World Cup FIFA had recently established an anti discrimination task force and was also facing criticism for awarding the 2022 World Cup to the country of Qatar where homosexuality is illegal 99 in August 2013 FIFA requested information from the Russian government on the law and its potential effects on the association football tournament 94 In the case of the Winter Olympics critics considered the law to be inconsistent with the Olympic Charter which states that discrimination on grounds of race religion politics gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement 100 In August 2013 the International Olympic Committee received assurances from the highest level of government in Russia that the legislation will not affect those attending or taking part in the Games and also received word that the government would abide by the Olympic Charter 101 102 The IOC also confirmed that it would enforce Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter which forbids political protest against athletes who make displays of support for the LGBT community at the Games 103 Vladimir Putin also made similar assurances prior to the Games but warned LGBT attendees that they would still be subject to the law 104 Athletes and supporters used the Olympics as leverage for further campaigns against the propaganda law A number of athletes came out as lesbian gay or bisexual to spread awareness of the situation in Russia including Australian snowboarder Belle Brockhoff 105 Canadian speed skater Anastasia Bucsis 106 gold medal figure skater Brian Boitano 107 and Finnish swimmer Ari Pekka Liukkonen 108 There were also calls to boycott the Games drawing comparisons to the Summer Olympics of 1980 in Moscow the last time the Olympics were held on what is now Russian soil 5 A campaign known as Principle 6 was established in collaboration between a group of Olympic athletes the organizations All Out and Athlete Ally and clothing maker American Apparel selling merchandise such as clothing with a quotation from the Olympic Charter to support pro LGBT organizations 109 Toronto advertising copywriter Brahm Finkelstein also began to market a rainbow coloured matryoshka doll set known as Pride Dolls designed by Italian artist Danilo Santino to benefit the Gay and Lesbian International Sport Association organizers of the World Outgames 110 111 Action was leveraged directly against Olympic sponsors and partners as well in late August 2013 the Human Rights Campaign sent letters to the ten Worldwide Olympic Partner companies urging them to show opposition towards anti LGBT laws denounce homophobic violence ask the IOC to obtain written commitments for the safety of LGBT athletes and attendees and oppose future Olympic bids from countries that outlaw support for LGBT equality 112 In February 2014 prior to the games a group of 40 human rights organizations including Athlete Ally Freedom House Human Rights Campaign Human Rights Watch and Russian LGBT Network among others also sent a joint letter to the Worldwide Olympic Partners urging them to use their prominence to support the rights of LGBT athletes under the Olympic Charter and pressure the IOC to show greater scrutiny towards the human rights abuses of future host countries 113 114 On 3 February 2014 USOC sponsor AT amp T issued a statement in support of LGBT rights at the Games becoming the first major Olympic advertiser to condemn the laws 115 Several major non sponsors also made pro LGBT statements to coincide with the opening of the Games Google placed a quotation from the Olympic Charter and an Olympic themed logo in the colours of the rainbow flag on its home page worldwide 116 while Channel 4 who serves as the official British broadcaster of the Paralympics adopted a rainbow coloured logo and broadcast a celebratory pro LGBT advert entitled Gay Mountain on 7 February 2014 alongside an interview with former rugby union player and anti homophobia activist Ben Cohen As part of its Dispatches series Channel 4 had also broadcast a documentary during the week of the Opening Ceremony entitled Hunted which documented the violence and abuse against LGBT people in Russia in the wake of the law 10 117 118 Effects on video games edit In May 2014 it was revealed that in accordance with the propaganda law the computer game The Sims 4 a new installment in a life simulation game franchise published by Electronic Arts which has historically allowed characters to participate in same sex relationships and allowed players to give their characters a customised gender had been given an 18 rating restricting its sale to adults only In contrast the pan European ratings board PEGI has historically rated The Sims games as being suitable for those aged 12 and over 119 120 121 In December 2016 the video game FIFA 17 which is also published by Electronic Arts was targeted for an event that allowed users to obtain rainbow coloured shoelaces for their virtual footballers in support of a pro LGBT advocacy campaign backed by the English Premier League MP Irina Rodnina stated that relevant authorities needed to verify the possibility of distributing this game on the territory of the Russian Federation 122 In December 2016 Blizzard Entertainment geo blocked a tie in web comic for its game Overwatch in Russia for containing a scene of the character Tracer who was confirmed as being lesbian kissing her partner another woman Blizzard cited the gay propaganda law as reasoning for the block The game itself is not blocked in the country 123 124 In February 2021 Miitopia received an 18 rating due to the ability of same sex Miis being able to form relationships with each other despite no actual sexual content whatsoever being present in the game 125 Expansion of the propaganda law editIn July 2022 Communist politician Nina Ostanina co sponsored a bill that would ban the denial of family values and the promotion of non traditional sexual orientations In an interview she further stated that a traditional family is a union of a man and woman it s children it s a multi generational family 126 127 128 In September 2022 at a political ceremony in which Russia formally annexed regions of Ukraine Putin said Do we really want to have here in our country in Russia Parent No 1 No 2 No 3 instead of mom and dad Do we really want perversions that lead to degradation and extinction to be imposed in our schools from the primary grades 129 On 27 October 2022 the State Duma unanimously passed a proposed bill that expands the gay propaganda law to cover any age group instead of only minors The bill also adds materials that give minors a desire to change their sex or constitute the promotion of paedophilia to the categories of materials covered by the law 130 131 132 The bill was unanimously passed by the Federation Council on 2 December 2022 and signed into law by Putin on 5 December 2022 133 Deputy Secretary of the General Council of Putin s United Russia Alexander Khinshtein is one of the architects of anti LGBT legislation that widens a prohibition of LGBT propaganda and restricts the demonstration of LGBT behaviour saying LGBT today is an element of hybrid warfare and in this hybrid warfare we must protect our values our society and our children 134 Supporters of the bill consider it as a response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine seeking to protect the country from influence and indoctrination by liberal Western values Konstantin Malofeev argued that our enemy holds the propaganda of sodomy as the core of its influence The bill has faced criticism from LGBT rights groups and other parties who consider it to be a blanket ban on any pro LGBT activity and warned that it could result in the ban or censorship of advertising films and literature that include LGBT themes It was also criticised for falsely conflating homosexuality with pedophilia 130 131 132 See also edit nbsp Wikisource has original text related to this article Federal Law of 29 June 2013 No 135 FZ Bayev and Others v Russia Concerns and controversies at the 2014 Winter Olympics List of 2018 FIFA World Cup controversies Hungarian anti LGBT law Florida Parental Rights in Education Act Portals nbsp Law nbsp Russia nbsp Human sexualityNotes editReferences edit Caleb Davis 10 January 2023 Russian publisher investigated by authorities under new anti LGBT law lawmaker Reuters Retrieved 6 March 2024 Lou Romeo 26 November 2022 Anti LGBT law in Russia Leaders want to construct a united conservative base France 24 Retrieved 6 March 2024 Russia Anti LGBT Law a Tool for Discrimination Human Rights Watch 29 June 2014 Retrieved 6 March 2024 First Probe Opened Into Breach of Russia s New LGBT Propaganda Law The Moscow Times 10 January 2023 Retrieved 6 March 2024 a b c Johnson Ted 24 July 2013 Russia s Anti Gay Laws Present Challenge for NBC s Olympics Coverage Variety Retrieved 25 July 2013 a b c Russia passes anti gay law The Guardian 30 June 2013 Retrieved 14 February 2014 a b Russian Anti Gay Bill Passes With Overwhelming Majority RIA Novosti 11 June 2013 Retrieved 18 June 2014 a b Lipman Masha 11 August 2013 The battle over Russia s anti gay law The New Yorker Moscow to launch law against gay propaganda and adoptions AsiaNews 27 June 2013 a b c Paul Gallagher and Vanessa Thorpe 2 February 2014 Shocking footage of anti gay groups Irish Independent Retrieved 12 February 2014 a b Herszenhorn David M 11 August 2013 Gays in Russia find no haven despite support from the West The New York Times Moscow says No to May 25 gay pride parade RIA Novosti 15 May 2013 Retrieved 13 March 2014 Moscow bans satanic gay parade BBC News Retrieved 15 February 2014 Gay Pride parade satanic mayor Sydney Morning Herald 30 January 2007 Retrieved 15 February 2014 Homophobic politician outed on national TV Pink News 22 June 2007 Retrieved 15 February 2014 European court fines Russia for banning gay parades BBC News 6 March 2012 Retrieved 16 February 2014 Judge bans Sochi 2014 gay Pride House claiming it would offend public morality Inside the Games 18 March 2012 Retrieved 12 February 2014 European court fines Russia for banning gay parades BBC News 17 August 2012 Retrieved 13 February 2014 Gay parades banned in Moscow for 100 years BBC News 17 August 2012 Retrieved 7 November 2013 Amendments to the law on protecting children from information harmful to their health and development Kremlin ru Government of Russia 31 July 2012 Retrieved 14 February 2014 Law on protecting children from negative and harmful information Kremlin ru Government of Russia 3 January 2011 Retrieved 14 February 2014 Russia awaits verdict on a new TV censorship law Russia Behind the Headlines 5 September 2012 Archived from the original on 20 July 2020 Retrieved 14 February 2014 Russia internet blacklist law takes effect BBC News November 2012 Retrieved 14 February 2014 a b c d e Russia Federal laws introducing ban of propaganda of non traditional sexual relationships PDF Article 19 Retrieved 14 February 2014 Sonne Paul 27 August 2013 Parody painting of Putin in women s underwear seized in Russian raid Wall Street Journal Mills Laura 10 August 2013 Morality crusader fuels the fire Vancouver Sun Archived from the original on 30 October 2013 a b c d Alpert Lukas I 11 June 2013 Russia passes bill banning gay propaganda Wall Street Journal Flintoff Corey 18 June 2013 Russian parliament may pass anti gay law NPR Russian region repeals gay propaganda law Gay Star News 6 November 2013 Archived from the original on 30 July 2019 Retrieved 17 February 2014 a b c Mark Gevisser Life Under Russia s Gay Propaganda Ban New York Times 27 December 2013 a b No Support Russia s Gay Propaganda Law Imperils LGBT Youth Human Rights Watch 11 December 2018 Six U S Organizations Voice Support of Russia s Antigay Law The Advocate 3 September 2013 Retrieved 14 February 2014 Q amp A Gay rights in Russia BBC News 13 August 2013 Rose Scott 1 July 2013 Putin signs law banning gay propaganda among children Bloomberg L P Agence France Presse 18 August 2013 Anti gay law furore Western media invention claims Russian sports minister The42 ie Retrieved 23 May 2021 Russia s anti gay propaganda law assault on freedom of expression Amnesty International 25 January 2013 Russia New laws an affront to basic human rights Amnesty International 1 July 2013 Russia Anti LGBT Law a Tool for Discrimination An Anniversary Assessment Human Rights Watch 29 June 2014 Owen Gibson amp Shaun Walker Ban Ki moon condemns persecution of gay people in Russia The Guardian 6 February 2014 Ban did not refer specifically to Russia s new laws which ban the promotion of non traditional sexual relations to under 18s but his words carry strong symbolic weight Russia Use Leadership to Repeal Discriminatory Propaganda Law Human Rights Watch 5 September 2013 Retrieved 7 November 2013 Nakamura David Obama meets with gay rights activists in Russia Washington Post Retrieved 7 November 2013 Fierstein Harvey 21 July 2013 Russia s Anti Gay Crackdown The New York Times Retrieved 25 July 2013 a b Russia First person to be convicted under anti gay propaganda law arrested by his own parents Pink News 2 September 2013 Retrieved 18 February 2014 Russian anti gay law prompts rise in homophobic violence The Guardian September 2013 Retrieved 8 February 2014 Dozens Held at LGBT Rally in Russia s St Petersburg RIA 29 June 2013 Retrieved 12 February 2014 Gay teenager kidnapped and tortured by Russian homophobes claimed to have died from injuries Pink News 6 August 2013 Archived from the original on 27 September 2013 Retrieved 24 September 2013 Greene Andy 22 January 2014 Elton John Blasts Russia Vicious Homophobia Has Been Legitimized Rolling Stone Archived from the original on 30 January 2014 Retrieved 8 February 2014 Sir Ian McKellen pens protest over Russian gay law BBC News 14 January 2014 Retrieved 23 May 2021 Queer Nation To Protest Outside New York Russian Consulate During Opening Ceremonies Towleroad com 3 February 2014 Retrieved 12 February 2014 Sochi Athletes fans set for Russia s Winter Olympics spectacle CNN 6 February 2014 Retrieved 12 February 2014 Ebel Francesca Gay pride flashmob occupies King s Parade for Sochi The Tab Archived from the original on 28 January 2015 a b Cooke Rachel 24 October 2013 Stephen Fry s documentary about gay life across the globe is unexpectedly absorbing New Statesman Retrieved 16 September 2016 a b Stephen Fry presenter Fergus O Brien director 2013 Stephen Fry Out There Television Documentary Maverick Television production company BBC distributor Event occurs at 24 40 27 00 episode 2 2 Narrator Stephen Fry The man behind the new law is the Deputy of St Petersburg Vitaly Milanov He believes that he can prevent a new generation of Russians from becoming gay be banning so called gay propaganda It s created an impossible situation for gay parents here who could now be accused of promoting their homosexuality to their own children Olga a local activist has arranged for me to meet some of those living with the fallout from the law Irina and Olga have been together for 12 years and each have one child from previous relationships 20 year old Daniel and Christina who at 16 is still considered a minor STEPHEN FRY According to this new law every day you are breaking the law by promoting homosexuality to Christina Olga and Irina nodding OLGA in Russian Yes not only Christina but her friends too According to Mr Milinov gay families are perverts and their children are even worse It s very insulting and hard for the kids especially Christina All of that was very unpleasant for her to hear STEPHEN FRY Does it actually seriously worry you that the day may come when you as a family are threatened by this new law IRINA in Russian Of course we are afraid because we really don t know what s going to happen next in the country There is even aggression in the streets and it is getting worse OLGA in Russian We are living in a very difficult period of time historically IRINA in Russian You just don t know if they can incarcerate you tomorrow for something or not a b Juzwiak Rich 17 October 2013 Stephen Fry hands anti gay Russian lawmaker his ass Gawker Retrieved 16 September 2016 Mason Rowena 19 August 2013 David Cameron met Stephen Fry to discuss Russian gay rights row The Guardian Retrieved 16 September 2016 Senzee Thom 14 October 2014 WATCH Coming Out Day Arrests Are Proof Putin Wants to Turn Back Time The Advocate Retrieved 29 September 2016 Russia 2013 Human Rights Report PDF United States Department of State 2016 p 55 Retrieved 29 September 2016 President Putin signed a law that criminalizes the so called propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations to minors The law effectively limits the rights of free expression and assembly for citizens who wish to publicly advocate for LGBT rights or express the opinion that homosexuality is normal see sections 2 a and 2 b On December 2 Roskomnadzor issued a list of clarifying criteria and examples of so called LGBT propaganda which includes materials that directly or indirectly approve of people who are in nontraditional sexual relationships LGBT persons reported dramatically heightened societal stigma and discrimination which some attributed to increasing official promotion of intolerance and homophobia Gay rights activists asserted that the majority of LGBT persons hid their orientation due to fear of losing their jobs or their homes as well as the threat of violence a b Judd Terri 12 August 2013 Russian politician Vitaly Milonov brands Stephen Fry sick during anti gay rant The Independent Retrieved 16 September 2016 Stephen Fry suicide bid took place while filming Out There BBC documentary about being gay The Independent 6 June 2013 Retrieved 16 September 2016 Johnson Paul 2015 Homosexual Propaganda Laws in the Russian Federation Are They in Violation of the European Convention on Human Rights Russian Law Journal 3 2 37 61 doi 10 17589 2309 8678 2015 3 2 37 61 ISSN 2312 3605 Bayev and Others v Russia HUDOC Opinion on the issue of the prohibition of so called propaganda of homosexuality in the light of recent legislation in some member states of the Council of Europe adopted by the Venice commission at its 95th plenary session Venice 14 15 June 2013 www venice coe int Retrieved 6 May 2022 a b c Katsuba Sergei 15 September 2023 Premeditated Organized and Impactful Dating Violence as a Method of Committing Hate Crimes Against LGBTQ People in Russia Journal of Family Violence doi 10 1007 s10896 023 00638 z ISSN 1573 2851 Taylor Adam 2017 Ramzan Kadyrov says there are no gay men in Chechnya and if there are any they should move to Canada Akty nasiliya SOVA www sova center ru in Russian Retrieved 14 April 2023 Russian Federation HCRW hatecrime osce org Retrieved 14 April 2023 a b c d e f g Katsuba Sergey 6 February 2023 The Decade of Violence A Comprehensive Analysis of Hate Crimes Against LGBTQ in Russia in the Era of the Gay Propaganda Law 2010 2020 Victims amp Offenders 21 doi 10 1080 15564886 2023 2167142 ISSN 1556 4886 S2CID 256661219 Buyantueva Radzhana Katsuba Sergei 14 September 2023 Anti LGBTQ Discrimination and Violence Russian Analytical Digest RAD 300 doi 10 3929 ethz b 000631043 ISSN 1863 0421 Kondakov Alexander November 2021 The influence of the gay propaganda law on violence against LGBTIQ people in Russia Evidence from criminal court rulings European Journal of Criminology 18 6 940 959 doi 10 1177 1477370819887511 ISSN 1477 3708 S2CID 210497632 a b Favarel Garrigues Gilles 1 October 2020 Digital vigilantism and anti paedophile activism in Russia Between civic involvement in law enforcement moral policing and business venture Global Crime 21 3 4 306 326 doi 10 1080 17440572 2019 1676738 ISSN 1744 0572 Kasra Mona 3 July 2017 Vigilantism public shaming and social media hegemony The role of digital networked images in humiliation and sociopolitical control The Communication Review 20 3 172 188 doi 10 1080 10714421 2017 1343068 ISSN 1071 4421 Why Met Won t Bow to Protest of Anti Gay Law Peter Gelb Bloomberg L P 22 September 2013 Retrieved 19 February 2014 Cooper Michael 23 September 2013 Gay Rights Protest Greets Opening Night at the Met The New York Times Retrieved 19 February 2014 Gay rights protest in St Petersburg ends in clashes arrests Reuters 12 October 2013 Archived from the original on 14 January 2016 Retrieved 28 June 2016 67 arrested in gay rights rally in St Petersburg CP24 12 October 2013 Retrieved 23 May 2021 Higgins Andrew 8 September 2013 Facing Fury Over Antigay Law Stoli Says Russian Not Really The New York Times Retrieved 19 February 2014 a b c Anna Lelik Kyrgyzstan Anti LGBT Bill Hits the Buffers EurasiaNet 24 May 2016 Catherine Putz Kyrgyz Anti Gay Propaganda Law Moves Forward The Diplomat 26 June 2015 Vladimir Putin has unleashed a frightening wave of homophobia that even he cannot control The Telegraph 19 January 2014 Retrieved 4 July 2014 Curtis M Wong 6 February 2014 How Russia s Ban On Gay Propaganda Is Being Enforced Huffington Post Archived from the original on 4 March 2016 Nechepurenko Ivan Fallout of Anti Gay Law Felt in Far East The Moscow Times Greenslade Roy 14 November 2013 Russian paper accused of gay propaganda for reporting news The Guardian Archived from the original on 4 March 2016 First Publication Fined for Gay Propaganda in Russia Towleroad com 30 January 2014 Retrieved 12 February 2014 Kevin O Flynn 10 August 2013 Gay Russian teens communicate in secret to avoid law on propaganda The Guardian Retrieved 17 December 2013 Russian journalist accused of anti gay propaganda defeats charges Amnesty International Archived from the original on 10 January 2018 Retrieved 23 March 2014 LGBT website founder fined under Russia s gay propaganda laws The Guardian 29 July 2015 Retrieved 9 September 2015 Cook Tim 29 October 2014 Tim Cook I m Proud to be Gay Bloomberg Businessweek Bloomberg LP Archived from the original on 30 October 2014 Retrieved 29 October 2014 Steve Jobs memorial in Russia is removed after Tim Cook comes out as gay by Sarah Parvini Los Angeles Times 11 March 2014 Russia could be investigating Apple over gay propaganda because of emoji The Telegraph Retrieved 29 September 2015 Russian censors say emojis don t violate gay propaganda ban Washington Times Washington Times LLC Retrieved 29 May 2016 Russia Bans Popular LGBT Website for Propaganda of Nontraditional Sexual Relations The Moscow Times 30 March 2018 LGBT Website Gay ru Blocked Within Russia The Advocate 2 April 2018 Russia bans Gay ru Meduza 30 March 2018 a b Luhn Alec 14 August 2013 US athlete Nick Symmonds speaks out against Russia s LGBT propaganda law in Moscow Runner dedicates silver medal to gay and lesbian friends at home during world athletics championships The Guardian Retrieved 12 February 2014 Swedish athletes rainbow nail protest draws outrage and support Sveriges Radio 15 August 2013 Retrieved 23 May 2021 Zaccardi Nick 17 August 2013 Swedish high jumper Emma Green Tregaro told rainbow nails break IAAF rules NBCSN Retrieved 23 May 2021 Yelena Isinbayeva attempts to clarify comments on Russia s anti gay law The Guardian 16 August 2013 Retrieved 23 May 2021 7 out LGBT Winter Olympians in Sochi Outsports 5 February 2014 Retrieved 12 February 2014 Fifa urged to pressure Russia and Qatar over anti gay legislation The Guardian 8 September 2013 Retrieved 18 February 2014 Gregory Sean 10 September 2013 Three Big Issues Facing the Next Olympic Committee President Time Retrieved 10 February 2014 IOC Statement Olympic org 22 August 2013 Retrieved 7 February 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics 2014 International Olympic Committee receives assurances on anti gay laws Daily Telegraph 9 August 2013 Reid Smith Treis 12 August 2013 Olympic Committee threatens to punish athletes who fight for gay Russians Gay Star News Archived from the original on 15 August 2013 Retrieved 18 February 2014 Putin says gays should feel welcome at Sochi Al Jazeera English Retrieved 17 January 2014 Australian snowboarder Belle Brockhoff comes out as gay to protest Russian laws Outsports SB Nation Vox Media 22 August 2013 Retrieved 18 February 2014 Kelly Cryderman 3 September 2013 Olympic speed skater Anastasia Bucsis so proud to be gay The Globe and Mail Retrieved 12 February 2014 Figure Skater Brian Boitano Comes Out As Gay Ahead of Sochi Olympics Huffington Post 19 December 2013 Retrieved 12 February 2014 Ranta Jarno 2 February 2014 Suomalainen olympiauimari kaapista ulos Vihdoin voin olla oma itseni Finnish Olympic swimmer out of the closet At last I can be myself Yle in Finnish Retrieved 2 February 2014 Elliott Stuart 2 December 2013 Merchandise Uses Olympics Principles Against Russian Anti Gay Laws The New York Times Retrieved 10 February 2014 Turnbull Barbara 5 February 2014 Olympics gay themed Russian nesting dolls are a hit Toronto Star Retrieved 23 March 2014 Nesting doll set to raise awareness of Russian LGBT controversy Digitaljournal com 31 January 2014 Retrieved 12 February 2014 HRC Calls on Olympic Sponsors to Condemn Anti LGBT Law in Russia Advocate for Equality Worldwide Human Rights Campaign 8 February 2014 Archived from the original on 24 September 2015 Retrieved 12 February 2014 Sochi 2014 Olympics Unsafe For LGBT Community Under Russia s Anti Gay Law Activists Warn International Business Times 4 July 2013 Retrieved 7 February 2014 Human rights groups urge Olympic corporate sponsors to speak out against Russia s policies Boston com Retrieved 9 February 2014 Elliott Stuart 4 February 2014 AT amp T Becomes First Major Advertiser to Protest Russia s Antigay Law The New York Times Retrieved 9 February 2014 Guynn Jessica 6 February 2014 Google takes stand against anti gay law at Sochi Winter Olympics The Los Angeles Times Retrieved 9 February 2014 Claire Hodgson 6 February 2014 Sochi 2014 Channel 4 logo goes rainbow to show support for gay community ahead of Winter Olympics The Mirror Retrieved 9 February 2014 C4 goes rainbow to wish good luck to those out in Sochi Retrieved 9 February 2014 Banks Cory 9 May 2014 The Sims 4 rated Adults Only in Russia PC Gamer Future plc Retrieved 9 May 2014 Chalk Andy 9 May 2014 The Sims 4 Rated Adults Only in Russia Over Same Sex Relationships The Escapist Archived from the original on 12 July 2014 Retrieved 9 May 2014 Orland Kyle 9 May 2014 Russia hangs adults only rating on The Sims 4 Ars Technica Conde Nast Digital Retrieved 9 May 2014 Russian MPs accuse Fifa 17 video game of gay propaganda The Guardian 5 December 2016 Retrieved 17 December 2016 Frank Allegra 20 December 2016 Overwatch s new comic confirms game s first queer character Polygon Retrieved 20 December 2016 Overwatch webcomic not released in Russia over gay character Eurogamer 21 December 2016 Retrieved 15 March 2017 Miitopia Has An 18 Rating In Russia Because Of Its Same Sex Relationships Nintendo Life 18 February 2021 Retrieved 26 November 2021 The president likes the topic Russian lawmakers develop competing bills in race to amend gay propaganda law sources tell Meduza As the Ukraine war rages Russia doubles down on anti LGBT laws Russian lawmaker proposes criminal sanctions for LGBT propa MENAFN COM menafn com Retrieved 30 March 2023 Litvinova Dasha 14 June 2023 In further blow to Russian LGBTQ community lawmakers move to ban gender transitioning procedures Los Angeles Times Retrieved 15 June 2023 a b Russia to ban sharing LGBT propaganda with adults as well as children BBC News 27 October 2022 Retrieved 29 October 2022 a b Russia Wants to Ban Any Positive Discussion of LGBTQ People www vice com 26 October 2022 Retrieved 29 October 2022 a b Russian Lawmakers Vote in Favor of LGBT Propaganda Expansion The Moscow Times 27 October 2022 Retrieved 28 October 2022 Putin podpisal zakon o zaprete propagandy netradicionnyh seksualnyh otnoshenij i smeny pola Putin signed the law about the ban of propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations and gender change Mediazona in Russian Retrieved 5 December 2022 Russia s parliament passes law banning LGBT propaganda among adults Reuters 24 November 2022 Further reading editHylton Emily Wirtz Andrea L Zelaya Carla E Latkin Carl Peryshkina Alena Mogilnyi Vladmir Dzhigun Petr Kostetskaya Irina Galai Noya Beyrer Chris 2017 Sexual Identity Stigma and Depression the Role of the Anti gay Propaganda Law in Mental Health among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Moscow Russia Journal of Urban Health 94 3 319 329 doi 10 1007 s11524 017 0133 6 PMC 5481210 PMID 28243868 Kondakov Alexander Shtorn Evgeny 2021 Sex Alcohol and Soul Violent Reactions to Coming Out after the Gay Propaganda Law in Russia The Russian Review 80 1 37 55 doi 10 1111 russ 12297 hdl 10138 338525 S2CID 234194944 Kondakov Alexander 2021 The influence of the gay propaganda law on violence against LGBTIQ people in Russia Evidence from criminal court rulings European Journal of Criminology 18 6 940 959 doi 10 1177 1477370819887511 S2CID 210497632 Moss Kevin 2021 Russia s Queer Science or How Anti LGBT Scholarship is Made The Russian Review 80 1 17 36 doi 10 1111 russ 12296 S2CID 234307412 Utkin Roman 2021 Queer Vulnerability and Russian Poetry after the Gay Propaganda Law The Russian Review 80 1 77 99 doi 10 1111 russ 12299 S2CID 234327909 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Russian anti LGBT law amp oldid 1222280264, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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