Russia further restricts the rights of gay and queer people with a new law. After the State Duma passed the law on so-called «LGBT propaganda», any positive representation of lesbian and gay love, for example, is now a punishable offence.
For example, contributions in social networks are affected, but also the content of books, films, media and advertising. Until now, the ban enacted in 2013 only applied to statements and representations made in the presence of minors. There have already been major international protests against this.
In dealing with children and young people, the catalog of prohibitions has now been significantly expanded: no information on gender changes can be passed on to minors that could encourage them to take such a step. Months ago, activists warned of tightening of the law and fear even greater discrimination against homosexual and queer people in Russia.
Heavy fines for rule violations
Violations of the new rules are subject to high penalties: citizens up to 200,000 rubles (almost 3,200 euros), companies and organizations up to five million rubles (almost 80,000 euros). Cinema films, on the other hand, are denied a distribution license if, from the point of view of the Russian judiciary, they “promote non-traditional sexual relations”.
Many critically minded artists and cultural workers have already fled abroad, also in view of the nine-month-old Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. But the new LGBT law is causing great uncertainty even among those who remain. According to information from the Kommersant newspaper, several publishers recently expressed concern in a letter to the Russian Book Association. One publisher, for example, noted that even the mention of certain historical facts could be fatal to him.
LGBT is the English abbreviation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. The LGBTQ, LGBTQI or LGBTQIA+ variants are also often used. Each letter represents your gender identity or sexual orientation.
