Is this the most dangerous time to be LGBTQ+ in Russia? Under President Vladimir Putin’s administration, how dire is the situation for the community? What drives the surge in political homophobia, and how have anti-LGBTQ+ laws shaped this landscape?
State Repression of the LGBTQ+ Community
On November 29, 2023, Russian authorities intensified their campaign against what they term “LGBT propaganda.” Police raided nightclubs and bars in Moscow, forcing patrons to lie on the ground while confiscating phones, laptops, and cameras. People were allowed to leave only after rigorous document checks. Among those detained was the head of a travel agency accused of organizing trips for individuals allegedly supporting “non-traditional sexual values.”
Unsurprisingly, Russia ranked as the most dangerous country in Europe for LGBTQ+ individuals in 2024, according to RainbowMap. Yet, the situation wasn’t always this dire.
A Shift in State Policy
After the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia experienced a brief renaissance for LGBTQ+ rights. Homosexuality was decriminalized in 1993, and transgender individuals gained the right to legally change their gender in 1997. However, societal and cultural homophobia persisted, exacerbated by state-driven policies.
The Russian government uses homophobia as a political tool to construct a conservative national identity, portraying LGBTQ+ individuals as “foreign agents” and threats to traditional values. By 2012, this strategy had become a cornerstone of state policy.
In 2013, Russia passed a law banning the “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships” to minors. This vague definition allowed authorities to target any information that might portray LGBTQ+ relationships positively, granting them broad powers to suppress the community without legal recourse.
Laws Targeting LGBTQ+ Organizations
Other repressive measures, such as the 2012 foreign-agents law, have been weaponized against LGBTQ+ organizations. For example, Russia’s first LGBTQ+ film festival, Side by Side, was fined and later banned for allegedly failing to register as a foreign agent. The festival’s team was forced to relocate its activities to Europe.
Escalating Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation
Violence against LGBTQ+ advocates and pride events has become routine in cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg. Meanwhile, legislative attacks on LGBTQ+ rights have escalated:
- In 2020, the Russian Constitution was amended to define marriage as “a union between a man and a woman.”
- By 2021, several LGBTQ+ organizations were labeled as foreign agents.
- In late 2022, Russia extended its “LGBT propaganda” ban to adults, silencing public expressions of support for LGBTQ+ individuals.
- In July 2023, a law banned changing gender markers on documents and blocked access to gender-affirming care.
- On November 30, 2023, Russia’s Supreme Court declared the “international public LGBT movement” an extremist organization, criminalizing any involvement under the threat of up to 12 years in prison.
These laws have effectively erased LGBTQ+ visibility in public and media spaces.
Global Influences on Russia’s Anti-LGBTQ+ Stance
Interestingly, some reports suggest that Russia’s policies are influenced by the U.S.-based World Congress of Families, a coalition of conservative organizations. This alliance, involving Russian oligarchs, Orthodox clergy, and Western conservatives, promotes “anti-gender diplomacy” to push back against progressive social values.
Russia frames itself as a defender of “traditional values,” contrasting itself with the perceived moral decline of the West. This rhetoric resonates with the Russian public, as opposition to same-sex relationships grew from 60% in 2013 to 69% in 2021.
A Crisis Demanding Global Attention
In addition to state repression, the Russian Orthodox Church and homophobic attitudes within security services further exacerbate the plight of LGBTQ+ individuals. The community faces relentless insecurity, intolerance, and violence—conditions that urgently require international intervention and advocacy.