LGBTQ rights in Russia#Homophobia

{{Main|LGBTQ history in Russia}}

The first recorded legal bans on male homosexuality were passed in 1716 under Tsar Peter the Great as part of his efforts to Westernize and modernize the Russian Empire. This consisted of a ban on sodomy in the military, but he failed to extend these restrictions to the general population.Healey, Daniel (2004). «Russia». An Encyclopedia of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Culture. In 1832, Tsar Nicholas I banned sodomy, which was punishable by exile to Siberia for four to five years.{{cite book | last=Duberman | first=Martin B. | last2=Vicinus | first2=Martha | last3=Chauncey | first3=George | title=Hidden from History | publisher=Dutton Books | publication-place=New York | date=1989 | isbn=0-453-00689-2 | page=}}

In the wake of the October Revolution, Russia underwent a sexual revolution and became one of the first countries to decriminalise male same-sex relations. The Bolsheviks rewrote the constitution and "produced two Criminal Codes – in 1922 and 1926 – and an article prohibiting homosexual sex was left off both."{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-41737330|title=1917 Russian Revolution: The gay community's brief window of freedom|year=2017|publisher=BBC|access-date=9 April 2019|archive-date=9 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190909074119/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-41737330|url-status=live}} The new Communist Party government removed the old laws regarding sexual relations, effectively legalising homosexual intercourse within Russia, although it remained illegal in other territories of the Soviet Union, and the homosexuals in Russia were still persecuted and sacked from their jobs.

Under Joseph Stalin, the Soviet Union recriminalized homosexuality in a decree signed in 1933.{{cite web |url=https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/the-secret-gay-history-of-russia/ |title=The Secret Gay History of Russia |date=June 17, 2018 |website=Gay Star News |last=Morgan |first=Joe |access-date=March 21, 2021 |archive-date=20 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120200954/https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/the-secret-gay-history-of-russia/ |url-status=dead }} The new Article 154-a,{{sfn|Engelstein|1995|p=169}} later relocated to Article 121 in 1961, punished sexual relations between men with up to five years' imprisonment and led to several raids and arrests. Female homosexuals were sent to mental institutions. The decree was part of a broader campaign against "deviant" behavior and "Western degeneracy". Homosexuality was portrayed in society as an area of activity for pedophiles and fascists.{{cite web | last=Khazan | first=Olga | title=Why Is Russia So Homophobic? | website=The Atlantic | date=2013-06-12 | url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/06/why-is-russia-so-homophobic/276817/ | access-date=2025-03-17}}

Following Stalin's death, there was a liberalisation of attitudes toward sexual issues in the Soviet Union, but homosexual acts remained illegal. Discrimination against LGBT individuals persisted in the Soviet era, and homosexuality was not officially declassified as a mental illness until 1999.{{Cite news |date=2017-11-10 |title=1917 Russian Revolution: The gay community's brief window of freedom |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41737330 |access-date=2023-01-03 |archive-date=3 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103171314/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41737330 |url-status=live }}

Soviet Article 121 was often commonly used to extend prison sentences and to control dissidents. Among those imprisoned were the well-known film director Sergei Paradjanov and the poet Gennady Trifonov. Under Mikhail Gorbachev's administration in the late 1980s, the first gay organisation came into being. The Moscow Gay & Lesbian Alliance was headed by Yevgeniya Debryanskaya and Roman Kalinin, who became the editor of the first officially registered gay newspaper, Tema.

The fall of the USSR accelerated the progress of the gay movement in Russia. Gay publications and plays appeared. In 1992, President Boris Yeltsin issued a decree repealing Article 121;{{cite web |title="We Have the Upper Hand". Freedom of assembly in Russia and the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people|url=https://www.hrw.org/legacy/backgrounder/lgbt/moscow0607/moscow0607web.pdf|publisher=Human Rights Watch and ILGA-Europe|date=2007|page=12}} however, those previously convicted under this article were not officially amnestied. In 1999, Russia adopted the ICD-10 standards, thereby removing homosexuality from the national registry of recognized diseases.{{cite web|title=Traditional values? Attempts to censor sexuality|publisher=ARTICLE 19|date=2013|page=27|url=https://www.article19.org/data/files/medialibrary/3637/LGBT-propaganda-report-ENGLISH.pdf}}

In 2004, Russian State Duma member {{ill|Alexander Chuyev|ru|Чуев, Александр Викторович}} introduced a bill to ban "homosexual propaganda," but the Prime Minister's office opposed the bill, noting that it would violate the Russian Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights. There were attempts to ban "homosexual propaganda" in Russia in 2003, 2004, and 2006, each opposed by government. Human Rights First attributes these events to the decriminalization of homosexuality and growing personal freedom in Russia, as a result of which LGBT people desired to live more openly; however, "homophobia and antigay hate crime remained serious problems".{{cite web | title=Convenient Targets: The Anti-“Propaganda” Law and the Threat to LGBT Rights in Russia | website=Human Rights First | date=2022-12-19 | url=https://humanrightsfirst.org/library/convenient-targets-the-anti-propaganda-law-and-the-threat-to-lgbt-rights-in-russia/ | access-date=2025-05-21}}

In April 2007, LGBT activists sent a letter to the Ministry of Health, demanding that the ban on blood donation by homosexual men be lifted, calling such a ban "discriminatory and destructive not only for homosexuals", and that the Ministry of Health’s order of 14 September 2001 be revised.{{cite web |last=Payevsky |first=Alexei | title=Кровосмешение геев с Минздравом | website=gazeta.ru | date=2007-04-10 | url=http://wap.gazeta.ru/science/2007/04/10_a_1569582.shtml | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106231747/http://wap.gazeta.ru/science/2007/04/10_a_1569582.shtml | archive-date=2014-11-06 | url-status=live | access-date=2025-05-21}} On 16 April 2008, the Minister of Health Tatyana Golikova issued the order “On Amending the Order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation of 14 September 2001 No. 364 “On Approval of the Procedure for Medical Examination of a Blood Donor and its Components,”{{cite web | title=Изменения в приказе об утверждении Порядка медицинского обследования донора крови |trans-title=Changes to the order approving the Procedure for medical examination of a blood donor | website=Rossiyskaya Gazeta | date=2008-05-24 | url=https://rg.ru/printable/2008/05/24/donor-doc.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908055256/https://rg.ru/printable/2008/05/24/donor-doc.html | archive-date=2017-09-08 | url-status=dead | language=ru | access-date=2025-05-21}} thereby lifting the ban on blood donation by men who have sex with men.{{cite web | title=Россиянам вольют «голубую кровь» |trans-title=Russians will be injected with "blue blood" | website=polit.ru | date=2008-05-23 | url=http://www.polit.ru/news/2008/05/23/donors/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112192108/http://www.polit.ru/news/2008/05/23/donors/ | archive-date=2013-11-12 | url-status=dead | access-date=2025-05-21}} The order was registered with the Ministry of Justice on 13 May 2008 and came into force on 23 May.{{cite web |url=http://medportal.ru/mednovosti/news/2008/05/23/homo/ |title=Гомосексуалистам разрешили быть донорами крови |trans-title=Homosexuals allowed to donate blood |publisher=MedPortal.ru |date=2008-05-23 |accessdate=2025-05-21 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824093428/http://medportal.ru/mednovosti/news/2008/05/23/homo/ |archivedate=2013-08-24 |url-status=live}}

In 2007, Human Rights Watch and the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association noted that there was an attack on the civil rights of LGBT people in Russia, a shrinking space for discussing homosexuality, censorship in the media, and persecution of dissidents.

According to Human Rights Watch, public statements by the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church show signs of inciting hatred towards LGBT people.{{cite journal | last=Cooper | first=Tanya | title=License to Harm | journal=Human Rights Watch | date=2014-12-15 | url=https://www.hrw.org/report/2014/12/15/license-harm/violence-and-harassment-against-lgbt-people-and-activists-russia | access-date=2025-05-21 | page=}} In June 2011, the ROC presented to the Council of Europe a report by Russian lawyers, “On the Right to Critical Evaluation of Homosexuality and on Legal Restrictions on the Imposition of Homosexuality,” the essence of which, according to the Moscow Helsinki Group, is an attack on LGBT rights using homophobic arguments.{{cite web | title=Положение лесбиянок, геев, бисексуалов, трансгендеров в Российской Федерации. Последняя четверть 2011 — первая половина 2012 | trans-title=The situation of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders in the Russian Federation. Last quarter of 2011 — first half of 2012 | url=https://ecom.ngo/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/doklad-monitoring.pdf | publisher=Moscow Helsinki Group | access-date=2025-05-21}}

In 2013, following the adoption of the federal law against “propaganda of homosexuality,” attacks on LGBT events intensified. British human rights activist Peter Tatchell noted that there is a tendency for homophobic repression to escalate in Russia, including criminal liability for freedom of expression, a ban on adoption of children by foreign homosexual couples, and the designation of LGBT organizations that receive grants from abroad as “foreign agents.”{{cite web | author-link=Peter Tatchell | last=Tatchell | first=Peter G | title=Vladimir Putin, The Czar of Homophobia | website=Huffington Post | date=2013-07-03 | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/peter-g-tatchell/homophobia-russia-vladimir-putin_b_3544610.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130707062007/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/peter-g-tatchell/homophobia-russia-vladimir-putin_b_3544610.html | archive-date=2013-07-07 | url-status=live | access-date=2025-05-21}} Human Rights First links the persecution of dissenters, including the persecution of LGBT citizens, to the response to the 2011–2013 Russian protests. In its opinion, Putin began to actively oppose LGBT rights in order to strengthen his influence within the country and distract attention from other problems.

In May 2019, ILGA-Europe placed Russia in 46th place among 49 European countries in terms of homophobia.{{cite web | title=Rainbow Map | website=ILGA-Europe | date=2020-09-30 | url=https://www.ilga-europe.org/sites/default/files/Attachments/rainbowmap2019online_0.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513082054/https://www.ilga-europe.org/sites/default/files/Attachments/rainbowmap2019online_0.pdf | archive-date=2019-05-13 | url-status=dead | access-date=2025-05-21}}

• The age of consent currently stands at 16 since 2003, regardless of sexual orientation.{{Cite web |author-link=Human Rights Watch |date=2018 |title=No Support: Russia's "Gay Propaganda" Law Imperils LGBT Youth |url=https://www.hrw.org/report/2018/12/12/no-support/russias-gay-propaganda-law-imperils-lgbt-youth |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106171818/https://www.hrw.org/report/2018/12/12/no-support/russias-gay-propaganda-law-imperils-lgbt-youth |archive-date=January 6, 2024 |access-date=January 6, 2024 |website=Human Rights Watch}}
• Homosexuality was officially removed from the Russian list of mental illnesses in 1999 (after the endorsement of the World Health Organization's ICD-10 classifications). However, there is a movement within Russia to bring it back. The Russian government introduced new laws on 1 July 2023 to effectively reinstate the classification of homosexuality as a mental illness.
• Single persons living within Russia, regardless of their sexual orientation, can adopt children. Russian children can be adopted by a single person who lives in a foreign country provided that country does not recognize same-sex marriage.{{cite news |title=Russia's Putin signs law limiting adoption by gays |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/07/03/russia-putin-gay-adoption/2486913/ |work=USA Today |date=3 July 2013 |agency=The Associated Press |access-date=2 September 2017 |archive-date=15 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215052311/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/07/03/russia-putin-gay-adoption/2486913/ |url-status=live }} A couple can adopt children together, as a couple, only if they are a married heterosexual couple.{{Cite web |first1=Phil |last1=Black |first2=Alla |last2=Eshchenko |date=2014-02-13 |title=Russia enacts anti-gay adoption ban |url=https://www.cnn.com/2014/02/13/world/europe/russia-same-sex-marriage-adoption-ban/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106172215/https://www.cnn.com/2014/02/13/world/europe/russia-same-sex-marriage-adoption-ban/index.html |archive-date=2024-01-06 |access-date=2024-01-06 |website=CNN |language=en}}
• The Russian constitution guarantees the right of peaceful association.{{cite report |author=Kseniya A.Kirichenko |title=Legal Report: Russian Federation |url=http://www.coe.int/t/Commissioner/Source/LGBT/RussiaLegal_E.pdf |publisher=Danish Institute for Human Rights |series=Study on Homophobia, Transphobia and Discrimination on Grounds of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity |year=2010 |page=4 |access-date=4 November 2023 |archive-date=6 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406024835/https://www.coe.int/t/Commissioner/Source/LGBT/RussiaLegal_E.pdf |url-status=live }} Nevertheless, organs of authority in Russia refuse to register LGBTQ organisations,{{Cite web |date=2019-07-17 |title=European Court finds Russia's refusal to register three LGBT organizations unjustified and discriminatory |url=https://www.icj.org/european-court-finds-russias-refusal-to-register-three-lgbt-organizations-unjustified-and-discriminatory/ |access-date=2023-10-04 |website=International Commission of Jurists |language=en-US |archive-date=11 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231011010026/https://www.icj.org/european-court-finds-russias-refusal-to-register-three-lgbt-organizations-unjustified-and-discriminatory/ |url-status=live }} and pro-LGBTQ advocacy groups have been declared extremist organisations and therefore prohibited from operating within Russian territory.

{{main|Recognition of same-sex unions in Russia}}

Neither same-sex marriages nor civil unions of same-sex couples are allowed in Russia. In July 2013, Patriarch Kirill, the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, of which approximately 71% of Russians are adherents,Religion in Russia according to the Religious Belief and National Belonging in Central and Eastern Europe survey by the Pew Forum, 2017 said that the idea of same-sex marriage was "a very dangerous sign of the Apocalypse". At a 2011 press conference, the head of the Moscow Registry Office, Irina Muravyova, declared: "Attempts by same-sex couples to marry both in Moscow and elsewhere in Russia are doomed to fail. We live in a civil society, we are guided by the federal law, [and] by the Constitution that clearly says: marriage in Russia is between a man and a woman. Such a marriage [same-sex] cannot be contracted in Russia."{{cite news |title=Same-sex marriages not allowed in Russia – Moscow registrar |publisher=Interfax-Religion |url=http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=8083 |access-date=13 January 2011 |date=13 January 2011 |archive-date=26 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226225200/http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=8083 |url-status=live }} The vast majority of the Russian public are also against same-sex marriage.{{cite web|title=Public opinion poll: Majority of Russians oppose gay marriages and a gay President but support ban on sexual orientation discrimination|publisher=Gayrussia.ru|date=19 May 2005|url=http://archive.gayrussia.eu/en/news/detail.php?ID=1459|access-date=26 May 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20151205083554/http://archive.gayrussia.eu/en/news/detail.php?ID=1459|archive-date=5 December 2015}}{{cite web|title=Same-Sex Marriage Nixed By Russians |newspaper=Angus Reid Global Monitor |date=17 February 2005 |url=http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/5986 |access-date=21 May 2009 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525015405/http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/5986 |archive-date=25 May 2009 }} In July 2020, Russian voters approved a Constitution amendment banning same-sex marriage.{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=2020-07-15|title=Russian parliament begins legalising ban on same-sex marriage|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-politics-gaymarriage-idUSKCN24G1CJ|access-date=2021-07-16|archive-date=16 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716094758/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-politics-gaymarriage-idUSKCN24G1CJ|url-status=live}} In the 2021 case Fedotova and Others v. Russia, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg ruled that it was a violation of human rights for Russia not to offer any form of legal recognition to same-sex relationships.{{cite web |last1=Fedele |first1=Giulio |title=The (Gay) Elephant in the Room: Is there a Positive Obligation to Legally Recognise Same-Sex Unions after Fedotova v. Russia? |url=https://www.ejiltalk.org/the-gay-elephant-in-the-room-is-there-a-positive-obligation-to-legally-recognise-same-sex-unions-after-fedotova-v-russia/ |website=EJIL: Talk! |access-date=13 August 2021 |language=English |date=23 July 2021 |archive-date=13 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813003640/https://www.ejiltalk.org/the-gay-elephant-in-the-room-is-there-a-positive-obligation-to-legally-recognise-same-sex-unions-after-fedotova-v-russia/ |url-status=live }} However, Russia left the court in 2022.{{Cite web |author-link=Council of Europe |date=2022 |title=Russia ceases to be party to the European Convention on Human Rights - Portal - www.coe.int |url=https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/russia-ceases-to-be-party-to-the-european-convention-on-human-rights |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106172143/https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/russia-ceases-to-be-party-to-the-european-convention-on-human-rights |archive-date=2024-01-06 |access-date=2024-01-06 |website=COUNCIL OF EUROPE |language=en-GB}}

Before 1993, homosexual acts between consenting males were against the law in Russia, and homosexuality was considered a mental disorder until adoption of ICD-10 in 1999,{{cite web|last=Warner|first=Nigel|title=The Russian Federation has dropped "homosexual orientation" from its new classification of mental and behaviour disorders|work=ILGA Euroletter 75]|publisher=France QRD]|date=November 1999|url=http://france.qrd.org/assocs/ilga/euroletter/75.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725054034/http://www.france.qrd.org/assocs/ilga/euroletter/75.html|archive-date=2008-07-25}} but even after that military medical expertise statute was in force to continue considering homosexuality a mental disorder which was a reason to deny homosexuals to serve in the military. On 1 July 2003, a new military medical expertise statute was adopted; it said people "who have problems with their identity and sexual preferences" can only be drafted during war times.{{cite news|title=Russian army to ban gays|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=13 March 2003|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2848467.stm|access-date=6 September 2020|archive-date=25 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425171422/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2848467.stm|url-status=live}} However, this clause contradicted another clause of the same statute which stated that different sexual orientation should not be considered a deviation. This ambiguity was resolved by the Major-General of the Medical Service Valery Kulikov who clearly stated that the new medical statute "does not forbid people of non-standard sexual orientation from serving in the military."{{cite news|title=Gays are not Willingly Accepted in the Russian Army|work=Pravda Online|date=1 December 2003|url=http://english.pravda.ru/main/18/90/362/11406_GayArmy.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090526044559/http://english.pravda.ru/main/18/90/362/11406_GayArmy.html|archive-date=2009-05-26}} However, he added that people of non-standard sexual orientation should not reveal their sexual orientation while serving in the army because "other soldiers are not going to like that; they can be beaten".{{cite news|title=Gays are not willingly accepted in the Russian army|url=http://english.pravda.ru/business/finance/01-12-2003/4207-gayarmy-0/|newspaper=Pravda.ru|date=1 December 2003|access-date=10 September 2013|archive-date=25 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150425175317/http://english.pravda.ru/business/finance/01-12-2003/4207-gayarmy-0/|url-status=live}} President Vladimir Putin said in a U.S. television interview in 2010 that openly gay men were not excluded from military service in Russia.{{cite news|title=Russian army put on alert for tell-tale tattoos|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21194719|newspaper=BBC News|date=25 January 2013|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-date=1 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201232656/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21194719|url-status=live}} In 2013, it was reported that the Defense Ministry had issued a guideline on assessment of new recruits' mental health that recommends recruits be asked about their sexual history and be examined for certain types of tattoos, especially genital or buttocks tattoos, that would allegedly indicate a homosexual orientation.{{cite news|last=Spinella|first=Peter|title=New soldiers face gay tattoo check|url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/new-soldiers-face-gay-tattoo-check/474484.html?photo=1|newspaper=Moscow Times|date=25 January 2013|access-date=10 September 2013|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304215123/http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/new-soldiers-face-gay-tattoo-check/474484.html?photo=1|url-status=live}}

As of April and May 2023 there has been a proposed crackdown on the changing of genders. The Russian State Duma is considering passing new laws to prevent men from changing their gender from male to female without surgery. The proposed changes, as first discussed by the Russian Minister of Justice, Konstantin Chuychenko, in April are to "rule out the possibility of changing a person’s gender purely by changing the documents.” Duma Committee on Family, Women, and Children's Affairs head Nina Ostanina said: "Amendments will soon be introduced in the State Duma to officially ban gender reassignment without surgery," In part it is to protect "family values" in Russia. However Russian men have considered changing their genders to avoid being called by the military authorities. According to one Russian source "In connection with the special operation, many young people have turned to private clinics to provide a sex change to avoid conscription..."Vyacheslav Volodin, Speaker of the Duma, claims that some "2,700" such decisions have been made in "recent times".{{cite news|url=https://www.firstpost.com/world/duma-to-ban-gender-reassignment-without-surgery-as-russian-men-go-for-sex-change-to-avoid-fighting-ukraine-12551312.html|title=Duma to ban gender reassignment without surgery as Russian men go for sex change to avoid fighting Ukraine|publisher=FirstPost|author=Ayndrila Banerjee|date=5 May 2023|access-date=6 May 2023|archive-date=6 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230506053212/https://www.firstpost.com/world/duma-to-ban-gender-reassignment-without-surgery-as-russian-men-go-for-sex-change-to-avoid-fighting-ukraine-12551312.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/post/16620|title=Russian Duma Plans Ban on Sex Change Without Surgery to Stop Evasion of Military Service|publisher=Kyiv Post|date=5 May 2023|access-date=6 May 2023|archive-date=6 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230506053212/https://www.kyivpost.com/post/16620|url-status=live}}

File:1st of May 2017 in Saint Petersburg 15.jpg, Russia, 1 May 2017]]

There have been notable objections to the organisation of gay pride parades{{Cite news|url=https://www.dailyxtra.com/gay-man-arrested-at-otherwise-peaceful-st-petersburg-pride-62605|title=Gay man arrested at otherwise peaceful St Petersburg Pride|date=2014-07-29|work=Xtra|access-date=2018-05-30|language=en-US|archive-date=3 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803061312/https://www.dailyxtra.com/gay-man-arrested-at-otherwise-peaceful-st-petersburg-pride-62605|url-status=live}} in several Russian cities, most prominently Moscow, where authorities have never approved a request to hold a gay pride rally.{{cite news|title=Moscow says No to May 25 gay pride parade|url=http://en.ria.ru/russia/20130515/181167995.html|newspaper=RIA Novosti|date=15 May 2013|access-date=14 March 2014|archive-date=25 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725085857/http://en.ria.ru/russia/20130515/181167995.html|url-status=live}} Former Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov supported the city's refusal to authorize the first two editions of Nikolay Alexeyev's Moscow Pride events, calling them as "satanic". The events still went on as planned, in defiance of their lack of authorisation.{{cite news|title=Moscow bans 'satanic' gay parade|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6310883.stm|work=BBC News|access-date=15 February 2014|archive-date=16 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616002844/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6310883.stm|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/gay-pride-parade-satanic-mayor/2007/01/30/1169919305743.html |title=Gay Pride parade 'satanic': mayor |publisher=Sydney Morning Herald |date=30 January 2007 |access-date=15 February 2014 |archive-date=16 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616030331/https://www.smh.com.au/news/world/gay-pride-parade-satanic-mayor/2007/01/30/1169919305743.html |url-status=live }} In 2010, Russia was fined by the European Court of Human Rights, ruling that, as alleged by Alexeyev, Russian cities were discriminating against the gay community by refusing to authorize pride parades. Although authorities had claimed allowing pride events to be held would pose a risk of violence, the Court ruled that their decisions "effectively approved of and supported groups who had called for [their] disruption."{{cite news|title=European court fines Russia for banning gay parades|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11598590|work=BBC News|date=6 March 2012|access-date=16 February 2014|archive-date=2 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002201959/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11598590|url-status=live}} In August 2012, contravening the previous ruling, the Moscow City Court upheld a ruling blocking requests by the organisers of Moscow Pride for authorisation to hold the parade yearly through 2112, citing the possibility of public disorder and a lack of support for such events by residents of Moscow.{{cite news|title=European court fines Russia for banning gay parades|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19293465|work=BBC News|date=17 August 2012|access-date=13 February 2014|archive-date=30 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530145017/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19293465|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19293465 |title=Gay parades banned in Moscow for 100 years |publisher=BBC |date=17 August 2012 |access-date=7 November 2013 |archive-date=30 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530145017/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19293465 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Not The Onion: Moscow Bans Gay Pride for Next 100 years |first=Steve |last=Clemons |author-link=Steven Clemons |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/06/not-the-onion-moscow-bans-gay-pride-for-next-100-years/258296/ |newspaper=The Atlantic |date=8 June 2012 |access-date=8 June 2012 |archive-date=20 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020154802/https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/06/not-the-onion-moscow-bans-gay-pride-for-next-100-years/258296/ |url-status=live }}

{{Main|LGBT rights in Chechnya|Anti-gay purges in Chechnya}}

File:Награждение Главой Чеченской Республики, Героем России Рамзаном Ахматовичем Кадыровым почётным званием Заслуженный строитель.jpg (right) with Chechnya's parliamentary chairman Magomed Daudov]]

Anti-gay purges in the Chechen Republic have included forced disappearances — secret abductions, imprisonment, and torture — by authorities targeting persons based on their perceived sexual orientation. An unknown number of men, who authorities detained on suspicion of being gay or bisexual, have reportedly died after being held in what human rights groups and eyewitnesses have called concentration camps.{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Lydia |title=Chechnya detains 100 gay men in first concentration camps since the Holocaust |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/chechnya-detains-100-gay-men-first-concentration-camps-since-holocaust-1616363 |access-date=16 April 2017 |work=International Business Times UK |date=10 April 2017 |archive-date=7 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191107082617/https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/chechnya-detains-100-gay-men-first-concentration-camps-since-holocaust-1616363 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Reynolds |first1=Daniel |title=Report: Chechnya Is Torturing Gay Men in Concentration Camps |url=http://www.advocate.com/world/2017/4/10/report-chechyna-torturing-gay-men-concentration-camps |access-date=16 April 2017 |work=The Advocate |date=10 April 2017 |archive-date=16 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616042354/https://www.advocate.com/world/2017/4/10/report-chechyna-torturing-gay-men-concentration-camps |url-status=live }}

Allegations were initially reported on 1 April 2017 in Novaya Gazeta,{{cite news |last = Milashina |first = Elena |title = Murder of honor: the ambitions of a well-known LGBT activist awake a terrible ancient custom in Chechnya |date = 1 April 2017 |url = https://www.novayagazeta.ru/articles/2017/04/01/71983-ubiystvo-chesti |access-date = 14 April 2017 |quote = "Novaya Gazeta" became aware of mass detentions of residents of Chechnya in connection with their unconventional sexual orientation – or suspicion of such. At the moment, more than a hundred men have been informed of the detention. "Novaya Gazeta" knows the names of the three dead, but our sources say that there are many more victims. |archive-date = 9 May 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190509141953/https://www.novayagazeta.ru/articles/2017/04/01/71983-ubiystvo-chesti |url-status = live }} a Russian-language opposition newspaper, which reported that since February 2017 over 100 men had allegedly been detained and tortured and at least three had died in an extrajudicial killing. The paper, citing its sources in the Chechen special services, called the wave of detentions a "prophylactic sweep".{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/01/world/europe/chechen-authorities-arresting-and-killing-gay-men-russian-paper-says.html|title=Chechen Authorities Arresting and Killing Gay Men, Russian Paper Says|first=Andrew E.|last=Kramer|newspaper=The New York Times|date=1 April 2017|access-date=15 April 2017|archive-date=28 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428122004/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/01/world/europe/chechen-authorities-arresting-and-killing-gay-men-russian-paper-says.html|url-status=live}} The journalist who first reported on the subject went into hiding.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/04/15/she-broke-the-story-of-chechnyas-anti-gay-purge-now-she-says-she-has-to-flee-russia/|title=Analysis – She broke the story of Chechnya's anti-gay purge. Now, she says she has to flee Russia.|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=16 April 2017|archive-date=4 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404014021/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/04/15/she-broke-the-story-of-chechnyas-anti-gay-purge-now-she-says-she-has-to-flee-russia/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.elleuk.com/life-and-culture/culture/news/a35180/there-are-terrifying-gay-concentration-camps-in-chechnya/|title=Reports Of New, Terrifying 'Gay Concentration Camps' Where Men Are Getting Tortured And Murdered|date=2017-04-13|work=ELLE UK|access-date=2017-04-13|archive-date=20 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720211400/http://www.elleuk.com/life-and-culture/culture/news/a35180/there-are-terrifying-gay-concentration-camps-in-chechnya/|url-status=live}} There have been calls for reprisals against journalists who report on the situation.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/14/journalists-fear-reprisals-for-exposing-purge-of-gay-men-in-chechnya|title=Journalists fear reprisals for exposing purge of gay men in Chechnya|first=Shaun|last=Walker|date=14 April 2017|access-date=15 April 2017|newspaper=The Guardian|archive-date=13 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413182052/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/14/journalists-fear-reprisals-for-exposing-purge-of-gay-men-in-chechnya|url-status=live}}

As news spread of Chechen authorities' actions, which have been described as part of a systematic anti-LGBTQ purge, Russian and international activists scrambled to evacuate survivors of the camps and other vulnerable Chechens but were met with difficulty obtaining visas to conduct them safely beyond Russia.{{cite web |title=Chechen gay men hopeful of finding refuge in five countries |author=Ponniah, Kevin |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39974512 |work=BBC News |date=19 May 2017 |access-date=22 May 2017 |archive-date=30 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430071230/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39974512 |url-status=live }}

The reports of the persecution were met with a variety of reactions worldwide. The Head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov denied not only the occurrence of any persecution but also the existence of gay men in Chechnya, adding that such people would be killed by their own families.{{cite news|last1=Walker|first1=Shaun|title=Chechen police 'have rounded up more than 100 suspected gay men'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/02/chechen-police-rounded-up-100-gay-men-report-russian-newspaper-chechnya|access-date=16 April 2017|work=The Guardian|date=2 April 2017|archive-date=27 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427205130/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/02/chechen-police-rounded-up-100-gay-men-report-russian-newspaper-chechnya|url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Chechen police 'kidnap and torture gay men' – LGBT activists |work=BBC News |author=Peter, Laurence |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39566136 |date=11 April 2017 |access-date=31 May 2017 |archive-date=24 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524215937/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39566136 |url-status=live }} Officials in Moscow were sceptical, although in late May the Russian government reportedly agreed to send an investigative team to Chechnya.{{cite news |title=Russia investigates 'gay purge' in Chechnya |author=Walker, Shaun |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/26/russia-investigates-gay-purge-in-chechnya |newspaper=The Guardian |date=26 May 2017 |access-date=27 May 2017 |archive-date=29 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190429004528/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/26/russia-investigates-gay-purge-in-chechnya |url-status=live }} Numerous national leaders and other public figures in the West condemned Chechnya's actions, and protests were held in Russia and elsewhere. A report released in December 2018 by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) confirmed claims that persecution of LGBTQ persons had taken place and was ignored by authorities.{{cite web

|last = Benedek

|first = Dr. Wolfgang

|title = OSCE Rapporteur's Report under the Moscow Mechanism on alleged Human Rights Violations and Impunity in the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation by Professor Dr. Wolfgang Benedek

|publisher = Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe

|date = December 21, 2018

|url = https://www.osce.org/odihr/407402?download=true

|access-date = 13 January 2018

|archive-date = 15 March 2019

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190315230116/https://www.osce.org/odihr/407402?download=true

|url-status = live

}}{{cite magazine

|last = Gessen

|first = Masha

|title = A Damning New Report on L.G.B.T. Persecution in Chechnya

|magazine = The New Yorker

|date = December 21, 2018

|url = https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/a-damning-new-report-on-lgbt-persecution-in-chechnya

|access-date = 13 January 2018

|archive-date = 24 May 2019

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190524005440/https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/a-damning-new-report-on-lgbt-persecution-in-chechnya

|url-status = live

}}

On 11 January 2019, it was reported that another 'gay purge' had begun in the country in December 2018, with several gay men and women being detained.{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/88929f353d494b3a87843002d02ad155|title=Reports: several gay men and women detained in Chechnya|first=Nataliya|last=Vasilyeva|date=11 January 2019|website=AP NEWS|access-date=14 January 2019|archive-date=3 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403031117/https://apnews.com/88929f353d494b3a87843002d02ad155|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last = Damshenas |first = Lily |title = Chechnya has reportedly launched a new 'gay purge' |publisher = The Gay Times |date = January 11, 2019 |url = https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/community/117320/chechnya-has-reportedly-launched-a-new-gay-purge/ |access-date = 13 January 2019 |archive-date = 9 September 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190909041944/https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/community/117320/chechnya-has-reportedly-launched-a-new-gay-purge/ |url-status = live }}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/chechnya-gay-purge-lgbt-detention-torture-missing-men-women-beating-a8723011.html|title=Chechnya launches new gay 'purge', reports say|date=11 January 2019|website=The Independent|access-date=14 January 2019|archive-date=24 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424101606/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/chechnya-gay-purge-lgbt-detention-torture-missing-men-women-beating-a8723011.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.novayagazeta.ru/news/2019/01/11/148260-chechnya|title="Новой газете" стало известно о новых преследованиях геев в Чечне|website=Новая газета – Novayagazeta.ru|access-date=14 January 2019|archive-date=11 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191011223326/https://www.novayagazeta.ru/news/2019/01/11/148260-chechnya|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/14/world/europe/chechnya-gay-people-russia.html|title=Chechnya Renews Crackdown on Gay People, Rights Group Says|last=Kramer|first=Andrew E.|date=2019-01-14|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-07-10|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=2 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502080454/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/14/world/europe/chechnya-gay-people-russia.html|url-status=live}} The Russian LGBT Network believes that around 40 persons were detained and two killed.{{Cite web|url=https://lgbtnet.org/en/newseng/new-wave-persecution-against-lgbt-people-chechnya-around-40-people-detained-least-two-killed|title=New wave of persecution against LGBT people in Chechnya: around 40 people detained, at least two killed|date=2019-01-14|website=Российская ЛГБТ-сеть|language=ru|access-date=2019-07-10|archive-date=30 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630191112/https://lgbtnet.org/en/newseng/new-wave-persecution-against-lgbt-people-chechnya-around-40-people-detained-least-two-killed|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/01/14/685192372/activists-say-40-detained-and-2-dead-in-gay-purge-in-chechnya|title=Activists Say 40 Detained And 2 Dead In Gay Purge In Chechnya|website=NPR.org|date=14 January 2019|language=en|access-date=2019-07-10|last1=Ingber|first1=Sasha|archive-date=19 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190519162748/https://www.npr.org/2019/01/14/685192372/activists-say-40-detained-and-2-dead-in-gay-purge-in-chechnya|url-status=live}}

In March 2021, Reuters reported that the European Union imposed economic sanctions on two Chechen officials accused of persecuting LGBTQ people in Chechnya.{{Cite news|date=2021-03-22|title=EU sanctions Russians over rights abuses in Chechnya|language=en|publisher=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-russia-rights-idUSKBN2BE20O|access-date=2021-03-23|archive-date=24 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220424061528/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-russia-rights-idUSKBN2BE20O|url-status=live}}

File:Neo-Nazism in Russia (2010).jpg

Russia has traditionally been socially conservative on LGBT rights, with 2013 polls indicating a large majority of Russians oppose legal recognition of same-sex marriage, and support for laws restricting the distribution of "propaganda" that promotes non-traditional sexual relationships.{{cite web |url=http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Smith-CrossNational-NORC-May-2011.pdf |title=Cross-national Differences in Attitudes towards Homosexuality |author=Tom W. Smith |publisher=NORC at the University of Chicago |date=April 2011 |access-date=12 June 2013 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305002828/http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Smith-CrossNational-NORC-May-2011.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/12/world/europe/gays-in-russia-find-no-haven-despite-support-from-the-west.html?pagewanted=all |title=Gays in Russia Find No Haven, Despite Support From the West |author=David M. Herszenhorn |date=August 11, 2013 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=27 February 2017 |archive-date=10 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410004758/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/12/world/europe/gays-in-russia-find-no-haven-despite-support-from-the-west.html?pagewanted=all |url-status=live }}

In May 2019, a Levada Center survey showed that 47% of Russian respondents agreed that "gays and lesbians should enjoy the same rights as other citizens," while 43 percent disagreed, a rise from 39% in 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://www.levada.ru/2019/05/23/otnoshenie-k-lgbt-lyudyam/|title=Отношение к ЛГБТ-людям|date=23 May 2019 |language=ru-RU|access-date=2019-07-10|archive-date=23 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523112744/https://www.levada.ru/2019/05/23/otnoshenie-k-lgbt-lyudyam/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/05/23/russian-support-for-lgbt-rights-hits-14-year-high-poll-says-a65703|title=Russian Support for LGBT Rights Hits 14-Year High, Poll Says|date=2019-05-23|website=The Moscow Times|language=en|access-date=2019-07-10|archive-date=24 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524173240/https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/05/23/russian-support-for-lgbt-rights-hits-14-year-high-poll-says-a65703|url-status=live}} It is noted that this figure has become the highest since 2005, when 51% of respondents spoke in favor of equal rights. However, despite the increased tolerance, 56% of respondents responded that their attitude towards homosexuals was negative.{{cite web | title=Почти половина россиян выступила за равные права для геев | trans-title=Almost half of Russians supported equal rights for gays | website=РБК | date=2022-12-31 | url=https://www.rbc.ru/politics/23/05/2019/5ce530039a7947172f79405d | language=ru | access-date=2025-05-21}}{{cite web | title=«Левада-центр»: 47% россиян выступили за равные права для геев | trans-title=Levada Center: 47% of Russians support equal rights for gays | website=Meduza | date=2019-05-23 | url=https://meduza.io/news/2019/05/23/levada-tsentr-47-rossiyan-vystupili-za-ravnye-prava-dlya-geev | language=ru | access-date=2025-05-21}}{{cite web | title=«Левада-центр»: 47% россиян выступили за равные права для геев и лесбиянок | trans-title=Levada Center: 47% of Russians support equal rights for gays and lesbians | website=TJ | date=2019-05-23 | url=https://tjournal.ru/irl/98489-levada-centr-47-rossiyan-vystupili-za-ravnye-prava-dlya-geev-i-lesbiyanok | language=ru | access-date=2025-05-21}} Another survey conducted in September 2021 revealed a decrease in the number of Russians who support equal rights for gays and lesbians to 33%, while 59% disagreed.{{cite web | title=Отношение россиян к ЛГБТ людям | trans-title=Russians' attitudes towards LGBT people | website=Levada Center | date=2021-10-15 | url=https://www.levada.ru/2021/10/15/otnoshenie-rossiyan-k-lgbt-lyudyam/ | language=ru | access-date=2025-05-21}}

In 2019, a poll showed that only 2% would show interest and a willingness to communicate if the neighbour was a homosexual couple or a member of a religious sect, the last of the category of people presented.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/love-thy-neighbor-/29956765.html|title=Love Thy (Russian) Neighbor? Not If They're Gay|website=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty|date=22 May 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-07-10|archive-date=25 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525230304/https://www.rferl.org/a/love-thy-neighbor-/29956765.html|url-status=live}}

A 2022 survey found that 74% of Russians said homosexuality should not be accepted by society (up from 60% in 2002), compared to 14% who said that homosexuality should be accepted by society.{{cite web|title=The global divide on homosexuality: greater acceptance in more secular and affluent countries|url=http://www.pewglobal.org/2013/06/04/the-global-divide-on-homosexuality/|publisher=Pew Research Global Attitudes Project|date=4 June 2013|access-date=12 June 2013|archive-date=3 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103034522/http://www.pewglobal.org/2013/06/04/the-global-divide-on-homosexuality/|url-status=live}} In a 2015 survey of 2,471 Russians, 86% said homosexuality should not be accepted by society.{{cite news |title=Religious Belief and National Belonging in Central and Eastern Europe |url=https://www.pewforum.org/2017/05/10/social-views-and-morality/ |work=Pew Research Center |date=10 May 2017 |access-date=2 November 2019 |archive-date=13 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190913212457/https://www.pewforum.org/2017/05/10/social-views-and-morality/ |url-status=live }} In a 2007 survey, 68% of Russians said homosexuality is always wrong (54%) or almost always wrong (14%).{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Tom W.|title=Cross-national differences in attitudes toward homosexuality|url=http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Smith-CrossNational-NORC-May-2011.pdf|publisher=Charles R. Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation (UCLA Law School)|date=April 2011|access-date=12 June 2013|archive-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305002828/http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Smith-CrossNational-NORC-May-2011.pdf|url-status=dead}} In a 2005 poll, 44% of Russians were in favour of making homosexual acts between consenting adults a criminal act; at the same time, 43% of Russians supported a legal ban on discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. In 2013, 16% of Russians surveyed said that gay people should be isolated from society, 22% said they should be forced to undergo treatment, and 5% said homosexuals should be "liquidated".{{cite news|title=87% of Russians oppose gay parades|url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/87-of-russians-oppose-gay-parades/476773.html|newspaper=The Moscow Times|date=12 March 2013|access-date=9 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030010646/http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/87-of-russians-oppose-gay-parades/476773.html|archive-date=30 October 2013|url-status=dead}} In Russian psychiatry, Soviet mentality about homosexuality has endured into the present day.{{cite journal |author1=Savenko, Yuri |author2=Perekhov, Alexei |title=The State of Psychiatry in Russia |journal=Psychiatric Times |series=Vol 31 No 2 |date=13 February 2014 |volume=31 |issue=2 |url=http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/special-reports/state-psychiatry-russia |access-date=17 February 2014 |archive-date=27 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927203913/https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/special-reports/state-psychiatry-russia |url-status=live }} For instance, in spite of the removal of homosexuality from the nomenclature of mental disorders, 62.5% of 450 surveyed psychiatrists in the Rostov Oblast view it as an illness, and up to three-quarters view it as immoral behavior. The psychiatrists sustain the objections to pride parades and the use of veiled schemes to lay off openly lesbian and gay persons from schools, child care centres, and other public institutions. A Russian motorcycle club called the Night Wolves, which is closely associated with Russian President Vladimir Putin and which suggests "Death to faggots" as an alternate name for itself,{{cite web |url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/15/group-anti-maidan-defend-russia-pro-democracy-protesters |title= Patriotic group formed to defend Russia against pro-democracy protesters |first= Shaun |last= Walker |work= The Guardian |date= 15 January 2015 |access-date= 16 May 2017 |archive-date= 3 August 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200803091158/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/15/group-anti-maidan-defend-russia-pro-democracy-protesters |url-status= live }} organised a large Anti-Maidan rally in February 2015 at which a popular slogan was "We don't need Western ideology and gay parades!"{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/11426775/Thousands-take-part-in-Anti-Maidan-protest-in-Moscow-against-uprising-in-Ukraine.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/11426775/Thousands-take-part-in-Anti-Maidan-protest-in-Moscow-against-uprising-in-Ukraine.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Thousands take part in 'Anti-Maidan' protest in Moscow against uprising in Ukraine|date=21 February 2015|work=Telegraph.co.uk|access-date=22 August 2015}}{{cbignore}}

Anton Krasovsky, a television news anchor at government-run KontrTV, was immediately fired{{cite news|title=Connect The World: Becky Anderson interview of Anton Krasovsky|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1308/13/ctw.01.html|newspaper=CNN|date=13 August 2013|access-date=14 March 2014|archive-date=15 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215102740/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1308/13/ctw.01.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://iz.ru/679211/2017-12-05/zhurnalist-anton-krasovskii-rasskazal-o-svoem-polozhitelnom-vich-statuse|title=Журналист Антон Красовский рассказал о своем положительном ВИЧ-статусе|language=ru|work=Izvestia|date=2017-12-05|access-date=2017-12-05|archive-date=10 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210204107/https://iz.ru/679211/2017-12-05/zhurnalist-anton-krasovskii-rasskazal-o-svoem-polozhitelnom-vich-statuse|url-status=live}} from his job in January 2013 when he announced during a live broadcast that he was gay and was disgusted by the national anti-gay propaganda legislation that had been proposed, although had not yet passed.{{cite news|last=Garcia|first=Michelle|title=Russian TV presenter comes out on air, gets fired|url=http://www.advocate.com/politics/media/2013/08/14/russian-tv-presenter-comes-out-air-gets-fired|newspaper=Advocate.com|date=14 August 2013|access-date=14 March 2014|archive-date=8 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408222632/https://www.advocate.com/politics/media/2013/08/14/russian-tv-presenter-comes-out-air-gets-fired|url-status=live}}

In September 2013, a Khabarovsk teacher and gay rights activist, Alexander Yermoshkin, was fired from his two jobs as school teacher and university researcher.{{cite web |url=http://slon.ru/fast/russia/khabarkovskiy-uchitel-lishilsya-raboty-iz-za-seksualnoy-orientatsii-986341.xhtml |title=Хабаровского учителя выгнали из школы и из университета за то, что он гей – Быстрый Slon |publisher=Slon.ru |access-date=7 November 2013 |archive-date=6 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106002844/http://slon.ru/fast/russia/khabarkovskiy-uchitel-lishilsya-raboty-iz-za-seksualnoy-orientatsii-986341.xhtml |url-status=live }} A week earlier, he had been attacked by members of a local neo-Nazi group "Shtolz Khabarovsk".{{cite web|url=http://amurburg.ru/news/v_kurse_dela/khabarovskie_natsisty_napali_na_lgbt_aktivista_aleksandra_ermoshkina/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130928211525/http://amurburg.ru/news/v_kurse_dela/khabarovskie_natsisty_napali_na_lgbt_aktivista_aleksandra_ermoshkina/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 September 2013 |title=khabarovskie_natsisty |publisher=Amurburg.ru |access-date=7 November 2013 }} An activist group called "Movement against the propaganda of sexual perversions" had campaigned for his dismissal.{{cite web|url=http://amurburg.ru/news/v_kurse_dela/khabarovskie_gomofoby_obedinilis_dlya_travli_izvestnogo_v_gorode_prepodavatelya/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130928211449/http://amurburg.ru/news/v_kurse_dela/khabarovskie_gomofoby_obedinilis_dlya_travli_izvestnogo_v_gorode_prepodavatelya/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 September 2013 |title=khabarovskie_gomofoby_ |publisher=Amurburg.ru |access-date=7 November 2013 }}

The federal law banning LGBT propaganda among minors was passed unanimously by the Russian Duma; as the bill amended an existing child protection law, it is difficult to know whether or not all of the MPs, and their respective political parties, supported every aspect of the bill or not. A few political parties without members in the Duma have expressed some limited support for LGBT rights.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}

Yabloko is a member of the Liberal International, and has organised public demonstrations against intolerance under the banner of building a "Russia without pogroms".{{Cite news |url=http://liberal-international.org/site/Russian_liberals_march_for_tolerance_in_St_Petersburg.html |title=Russian liberals march for tolerance in St. Petersburg |publisher=Liberal International |date=7 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117025854/http://liberal-international.org/site/Russian_liberals_march_for_tolerance_in_St_Petersburg.html |archive-date=17 November 2015}}

The Libertarian Party of Russia, formed in 2007, has objected to the government ban on "gay propaganda" as a violation of people's right to freedom of speech.Libertarian Party of Russia. Press Release. 23 April 2012

In 2016, two openly gay men ran for seats in the Russian duma. While they admit that they probably will not win a seat, they were supported by a liberal coalition. They are also probably the first openly gay candidates to run for seats in the Russian parliament.{{cite web|last1=Shevchenko|first1=Darina|title=Openly Gay Candidates Push Back In Russia's Duma Elections|url=http://www.rferl.org/a/russia-lgbt-duma-elections-barantayev-korolyov/27981994.html|website=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty|access-date=15 October 2017|date=12 September 2016|archive-date=15 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915023403/https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-lgbt-duma-elections-barantayev-korolyov/27981994.html|url-status=live}}

The LGBT rights organisation Gayrussia.ru has been monitoring homophobic political parties since 2011.{{cite news|url=http://www.gayrussia.eu/russia/1584/|title=В России впервые опубликован поименный список гомофобов, гей-активисты потребуют запретить им въезд в Евросоюз и другие страны|date=17 May 2011|publisher=Gayrussia.ru|language=ru|access-date=2013-06-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019062806/http://www.gayrussia.eu/russia/1584/|archive-date=19 October 2013|url-status=dead}} In the middle of 2013 their list included:{{cite web |url= http://www.gayrussia.eu/article282/organisationslist.php |title= Алфавитный список гомофобных партий, организаций и движений |website= Gayrussia.ru |language= ru |access-date= 2013-06-15 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130406175312/http://www.gayrussia.eu/article282/organisationslist.php |archive-date= 6 April 2013 |url-status= dead}} United Russia, Communist Party of Russian Federation, Narodnaya Volya, National Bolshevik Party, National Bolshevik Front, Patriots of Russia, Eurasian Youth Union and Fair Russia.

President Vladimir Putin has used the existence of transgender rights in other countries as justification for the potential deployment of nuclear weapons against Ukraine. In a speech given on September 30, 2022, Putin said "Do we want things that lead to degradation and extinction to be imposed on children from elementary school? Do we want them to be taught that instead of men and women, there are supposedly some other genders and to be offered sex-change surgeries? This is unacceptable to us." before following up by stating that Russia would be willing to use "all means at our disposal" against Ukraine, and saying that the United States "created a precedent" when it used nuclear weapons against Japan in 1945, mirroring comments by other Russian officials that nuclear weapons were on the table.{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/09/30/putin-speech-russia-ukraine-war/ |last1=Dixon |first1=Robyn |title=As war fails, Russia's authoritarian grandmaster backs himself into a corner |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=2 October 2022 |archive-date=3 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221003230334/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/09/30/putin-speech-russia-ukraine-war/ |url-status=live }}

File:LGBT activist attacked in St.-Petersburg.jpg

Hate crimes against LGBTQ individuals are on the rise in Russia. They became more prevalent as a direct consequence of the "gay propaganda law". The introduction of this discriminatory legislation caused a disturbing chain reaction. 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 people as a means of restoring societal order.{{Cite journal |last=Katsuba |first=Sergei |date=2023-09-15 |title=Premeditated, Organized and Impactful: Dating Violence as a Method of Committing Hate Crimes Against LGBTQ People in Russia |journal=Journal of Family Violence |volume=39 |issue=7 |pages=1407–1420 |language=en |doi=10.1007/s10896-023-00638-z |issn=0885-7482|doi-access=free }} {{Creative Commons text attribution notice|cc=by4|from this source=yes}} The Russian government does not officially record hate crimes against the LGBTQ community, perpetuating a narrative that such individuals do not exist.{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Adam|date=July 15, 2017 |title=Ramzan Kadyrov says there are no gay men in Chechnya — and if there are any, they should move to Canada |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/07/15/ramzan-kadyrov-says-there-are-no-gay-men-in-chechnya-and-if-there-are-any-they-should-move-to-canada/ |newspaper=Washington Post}}

File:Day of Kisses in Moscow.jpg

Overall, the number of crimes is triple that prior to the law. This has been reported by a number of research projects and NGOs (2 Russian NGOs - LGBT Initiative Group Stimul and SOVA Center and 1 international organization - OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights – ODIHR).{{Cite web |title=SOVA-Center |url=https://www.sova-center.ru/database/violence/?incidentType=®ion=&year=&month=&dateStart=2007-01-01&dateEnd=2023-04-14&phenotype=183&citizenship=&gender=&rows=phenotype&columns=year&victims=min}}{{Cite web |title=OSCE Hate Crimes |url=https://hatecrime.osce.org/russian-federation}}{{Cite journal |last=Katsuba |first=Sergey |date=2023-02-06 |title=The Decade of Violence: A Comprehensive Analysis of Hate Crimes Against LGBTQ in Russia in the Era of the "Gay Propaganda Law" (2010–2020) |journal=Victims & Offenders |volume=19 |issue=3 |language=en |pages=395–418 |doi=10.1080/15564886.2023.2167142 |issn=1556-4886|doi-access=free }} In addition to this quantitative change, crimes against LGBTQ people have become more violent, and more are perpetrated by groups rather than individuals.{{Cite journal |last1=Buyantueva |first1=Radzhana |last2=Katsuba |first2=Sergei |date=2023-09-14 |others=Burkhardt, Fabian, Orttung, Robert, Perović, Jeronim, Pleines, Heiko, Powell, Ellen, Schröder, Hans-Henning, Snetkov, Aglaya |title=Anti-LGBTQ Discrimination and Violence |journal=Russian Analytical Digest (Rad) |volume=300 |url=http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11850/631043 |language=en |pages=9 p |doi=10.3929/ETHZ-B-000631043|hdl=20.500.11850/631043 }}

File:Hate crimes against LGBTQ in Russia.png

Between 2013 and 2018 the number of hate crimes against LGBTQ people tripled. 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,{{Cite journal |last=Kondakov |first=Alexander |date=November 2021 |title=The influence of the 'gay-propaganda' law on violence against LGBTIQ people in Russia: Evidence from criminal court rulings |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1477370819887511 |journal=European Journal of Criminology |language=en |volume=18 |issue=6 |pages=940–959 |doi=10.1177/1477370819887511 |issn=1477-3708 |s2cid=210497632|url-access=subscription }} and it remained on a higher level throughout the decade.{{Cite journal |last=Katsuba |first=Sergey |date=2023-02-06 |title=The Decade of Violence: A Comprehensive Analysis of Hate Crimes Against LGBTQ in Russia in the Era of the "Gay Propaganda Law" (2010–2020) |journal=Victims & Offenders |volume=19 |issue=3 |pages=395–418 |doi=10.1080/15564886.2023.2167142 |issn=1556-4886 |s2cid=256661219 |doi-access=free}} 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).

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

After 2013 crime against gay people was found by research to have become more violent, with 67% of hate crime incidents having indications of "extreme violence".

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 3 years in a row (2017, 2018, 2019) there was an increase in organized hate crimes against LGBTQ, attributed to the activity of homophobic hate groups. 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.{{Cite journal |last=Favarel-Garrigues |first=Gilles |date=2020-10-01 |title=Digital vigilantism and anti-paedophile activism in Russia. Between civic involvement in law enforcement, moral policing and business venture |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17440572.2019.1676738 |journal=Global Crime |language=en |volume=21 |issue=3–4 |pages=306–326 |doi=10.1080/17440572.2019.1676738 |s2cid=210451169 |issn=1744-0572|url-access=subscription }}{{Cite journal |last=Kasra |first=Mona |date=2017-07-03 |title=Vigilantism, public shaming, and social media hegemony: The role of digital-networked images in humiliation and sociopolitical control |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10714421.2017.1343068 |journal=The Communication Review |language=en |volume=20 |issue=3 |pages=172–188 |doi=10.1080/10714421.2017.1343068 |s2cid=148959909 |issn=1071-4421|url-access=subscription }}

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. 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{{Cite journal |last=Katsuba |first=Sergei |date=2023-09-15 |title=Premeditated, Organized and Impactful: Dating Violence as a Method of Committing Hate Crimes Against LGBTQ People in Russia |journal=Journal of Family Violence |volume=39 |issue=7 |pages=1407–1420 |language=en |doi=10.1007/s10896-023-00638-z |issn=1573-2851|doi-access=free }}

The crimes committed by the numerous hate groups follow the same scenario.

The presumed paedophile is subjected to a filmed interrogation in which the microphone is replaced by a dildo or a toilet brush. Tesak asks him to identify himself, to hold his passport up to the screen, to indicate his address, to say whether or not he is married and if he has children. After the naming and shaming stage, the questions are then aimed at making the presumed paedophile admit his intentions in going to the date and, more generally, his sexual preferences: ‘are you a paedophile or a paederast?’ […] “Congratulations, you have just completely ruined your life”, jokes Tesak while filming another of his prey lying motionless in his bathtub and being subjected to this pretence of an investigation. The presumed paedophile must often call close people in his life – his wife, children, brother or employer – and has to confess his guilt in front of the camera. His head is sometimes shaved or his hair dyed green. Homophobic and defamatory inscriptions are written on his forehead (‘Fuck LGBT’, or a rainbow flag). He is made to simulate fellatio with a dildo, and to prance around and sing silly songs. Sometimes he is filmed without any clothes on. He is slapped, shouted at and roughed up. The punishment known as ‘urotherapy’ is a common practice in all of Occupy Paedophilia’s videos and a hallmark of neo-Nazi vigilantes. It involves throwing urine in the prey’s face or making them drink it.

File:Protesta por la homofobia institucional de Rusia-3.jpg protest LGBT rights violations in Russia. 'El amor siempre gana' translates as 'Love always wins'.]]

Unlike in many western nations, LGBT persons in Russia are not protected by specific legal protections. Violent criminal acts carried out against LGBT people are prosecuted as criminal offences under Russian law, but the fact that these crimes are motivated by the sexual orientation or gender identity of the victim is not considered an aggravating factor when the court determines the sentence. Among the more vicious crimes that would qualify as hate crimes outside of Russia and are reported in the press would include the following;

• On 9 May 2013, after Victory Day parades in Volgograd, the body of a 23-year-old man was found tortured and murdered by three males who stated anti-homosexual motivations, even though family and friends state the victim had no behavior inclination.[http://www.mk.ru/incident/crime/article/2013/05/11/852504-v-volgograde-otprazdnovali-9-maya-zhestokim-ubiystvom-geya.html МК: В Волгограде отпраздновали 9 мая жестоким убийством гея] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610201807/http://www.mk.ru/incident/crime/article/2013/05/11/852504-v-volgograde-otprazdnovali-9-maya-zhestokim-ubiystvom-geya.html |date=10 June 2015 }}, MK: In Volgograd, 9 May was celebrated by murdering a gay.
• On 29 May 2013, the body of 38-year-old deputy director of Kamchatka airport Oleg Serdyuk (rus: Олег Сердюк) was found in his burned-out car, having been beaten and stabbed the previous day.[http://echo.msk.ru/blog/vladimir_khitrov/1087640-echo/ Murder in Kamchatka: homophobes or rednecks?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809201358/http://echo.msk.ru/blog/vladimir_khitrov/1087640-echo/ |date=9 August 2017 }} Echo of Moscow radio station, 3 June 2013, 17:01 Local authorities said the murder was motivated by homophobia.[http://www.kp.ru/online/news/1453399 КП:Замдиректора камчатского аэропорта убили за то, что он был геем] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010162639/http://www.kp.ru/online/news/1453399/ |date=10 October 2016 }}, KP: Deputy director of Kamchatka airport was killed because he was gay. Three suspects (who were local residents) were tried and sentenced to prison terms of 9 to 12 years.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/04/world/europe/russia-3-jailed-in-anti-gay-case.html|title=Russia: 3 Jailed in Anti-Gay Case|first=Patrick|last=Reevell|newspaper=The New York Times|date=3 February 2014|access-date=4 August 2017|archive-date=15 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215155855/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/04/world/europe/russia-3-jailed-in-anti-gay-case.html|url-status=live}}
• From October 2013 – February 2014, anti-gay attacks targeting the LGBT community in Moscow were reported at Russia's largest gay nightclub Central Station, including gunfire and gas attacks. Several attacks and victim responses were documented in an ABC News Nightline special "Moscow is Burning".{{Cite web |last=Patria |first=Melia |date=2014-02-12 |title=Russia's Largest Gay Nightclub Strives to Be a Haven Despite Horrific Attacks |website=ABC News |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/russias-largest-gay-nightclub-strives-haven-horrific-attacks/story?id=22478276 |access-date=2022-03-23 |archive-date=31 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231012945/https://abcnews.go.com/International/russias-largest-gay-nightclub-strives-haven-horrific-attacks/story?id=22478276 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Patria |first=Melia |date=2014-03-27 |title=Russia's Largest Gay Club Has Shut Down |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/russias-largest-gay-club-target-anti-gay-attacks/story?id=23075131 |access-date=2022-03-23 |website=ABC News |language=en |archive-date=31 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231012940/https://abcnews.go.com/International/russias-largest-gay-club-target-anti-gay-attacks/story?id=23075131 |url-status=live }} Several employees of the club subsequently left the country.{{Cite web |last=Patria |first=Melia |date=2014-06-26 |title=Russian Drag Performer Builds New Life in US |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/russian-drag-performer-builds-life-us/story?id=24315102 |access-date=2022-03-23 |website=ABC News |language=en |archive-date=31 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231012947/https://abcnews.go.com/US/russian-drag-performer-builds-life-us/story?id=24315102 |url-status=live }}

In Tsarist Russia, young women would sometimes pose as men or act like tomboys. This was often tolerated among the educated middle classes, with the assumption that such behavior was asexual and would stop when the girl married.{{cite encyclopedia|last=Healey |first=Daniel |title=Russia |encyclopedia=glbtq: An Encyclopedia of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, transgender, and Queer Culture |publisher=glbtq, Inc |orig-year=2004 |date=19 July 2005 |url=http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/russia.html |access-date=21 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051027155656/http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/russia.html |archive-date=27 October 2005 }} However, cross-dressing was widely seen as sexually immoral behavior, punishable by God promoted through the Church and later criminalized by the government.

In Soviet Russia, sex reassignment surgeries were first tried during the 1920s{{Citation needed|date=June 2016}} but became prohibited until the 1960s. Later they were performed by Irina Golubeva, an endocrinologist, authorized by psychiatrist Aron Belkin, who was the strongest Soviet advocate for transgender people until his death in 2003.

On 29 December 2014, Russia passed a road safety law, allowing the government to deny driver's licenses to people with several classes of mental disorders according to ICD-10.{{Cite web|url=http://ivo.garant.ru/|title=ГАРАНТ|website=ivo.garant.ru|access-date=16 June 2016|archive-date=9 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209183918/http://ivo.garant.ru/|url-status=live}} Class "F60-69 Disorders of adult personality and behaviour" includes "F64 Transsexualism"{{Cite web|url=https://icd.who.int/browse10/2016/en|title=ICD-10 Version:2016|website=icd.who.int|access-date=19 May 2020|archive-date=5 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105125609/http://apps.who.int/classifications/icd10/browse/2016/en|url-status=live}} Russian and foreign critics perceived the law as a ban on transgender drivers: journalist Yelena Masyuk questioned the relevance of a person's transgender identity in regards to their ability to drive.{{cite news|title=Russia says drivers must not have 'sex disorders'|work=BBC News|date=8 January 2015|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30735673|access-date=9 January 2015|archive-date=19 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190519042907/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30735673|url-status=live}}{{cite news|first=Shaun |last=Walker|title=Transgender people in Russia banned from driving, says legal amendment|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/09/transgender-people-russia-banned-driving-legal-amendment-dmitry-medvedev|access-date=10 January 2015|work=The Guardian|archive-date=28 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428102359/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/09/transgender-people-russia-banned-driving-legal-amendment-dmitry-medvedev|url-status=live}} On 14 January 2015, Russia's Health Ministry clarified the law, stating that it would only deny licenses to those with disorders that would impair their ability to drive safely, and explicitly stated that one's sexual orientation would not be considered a factor under the law, as it is not considered a psychiatric disorder.{{cite web|title=Health Ministry Says Transsexuals Can Still Drive in Russia|url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/health-ministry-says-transsexuals-can-still-drive-in-russia/514313.html|website=The Moscow Times|date=14 January 2015 |access-date=23 January 2015|archive-date=16 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160716194846/http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/health-ministry-says-transsexuals-can-still-drive-in-russia/514313.html|url-status=live}}

In 2018, the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation developed a draft medical certificate that will help transgender people with confirming their gender identity on their legal documents. The Ministry of Justice approved this document on January 19, 2018. Up to this point, changes related to the gender change could only be made to the documents on the basis of a court decision. The Ministry of Health explained that, in accordance with the legislation, the registry offices make changes to the birth certificate if a mentioned certificate is submitted.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

A certificate of gender change required to change person's gender in documents such as a birth certificate and passport, and can be obtained on the basis of a medical commission consisting of a psychiatrist, a sexologist and a medical psychologist. Neither sex-affirmative surgery nor hormone replacement therapy are required. The minimum duration of psychiatric observation is not specified in the final document of the Ministry of Health.{{Cite news |title=Минздрав разъяснил новую процедуру получения документов о смене пола |url=https://tass.ru/obschestvo/4896437 |access-date=2022-03-05 |newspaper=Tacc |archive-date=28 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228195428/https://tass.ru/obschestvo/4896437 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|url=http://pravo-trans.eu/|title=Проект правовой помощи трансгендерным людям|website=pravo-trans.eu|access-date=28 February 2022|archive-date=1 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301185250/http://pravo-trans.eu/|url-status=live}} On average, the commission lasts from 2 days to 1 month.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

On 31 May 2023, a bill to legally ban individuals having any sex change and reassignments within Russia, annulling marriages with partners that have changed gender and banning said individuals from adopting children was introduced in the State Duma.{{Cite web |date=31 May 2023 |title=Ban gender change |url=https://sozd.duma.gov.ru/bill/369814-8#bh_note |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230530222924/https://sozd.duma.gov.ru/bill/369814-8#bh_note |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 May 2023 }} On 19 July, the bill unanimously passed its three required readings in the State Duma (lower house of parliament).{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-parliament-expected-back-sex-reassignment-surgery-ban-2023-06-14/ |title=Russian parliament gives initial backing to law banning gender change surgery |date=14 June 2023 |website=reuters.com |access-date=23 June 2023 |archive-date=17 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617114259/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-parliament-expected-back-sex-reassignment-surgery-ban-2023-06-14/ |url-status=live }}

On 19 July, the upper house of parliament unanimously approved the bill as well.{{cite web |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/russia/article/2023/07/19/russia-s-upper-house-of-parliament-approves-ban-on-gender-changes_6059081_140.html |title=Russia's upper house of parliament approves ban on gender changes |date=19 July 2023 |work=Le Monde |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724154626/https://www.lemonde.fr/en/russia/article/2023/07/19/russia-s-upper-house-of-parliament-approves-ban-on-gender-changes_6059081_140.html |url-status=live }}

On 24 July, the bill was signed into law by Russian president Vladimir Putin.{{cite news |title=Russian president signs legislation marking the final step outlawing gender-affirming procedures |url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-lgbtq-transgender-procedures-banned-21b88f53b9a74a646400d63ce93bde6f |access-date=25 July 2023 |work=AP News |date=24 July 2023 |language=en |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724230906/https://apnews.com/article/russia-lgbtq-transgender-procedures-banned-21b88f53b9a74a646400d63ce93bde6f |url-status=live }} State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said the number of gender reassignment surgeries in the U.S. has increased by 50 times over the past 10 years, and around 1.4% of all US teenagers aged between 13 and 17 identified themselves as transgender in 2022. He said “This is the path leading to the degradation of a nation”, stating that the newly adopted law was designed to avoid such a scenario.{{cite web |url=https://saharareporters.com/2023/07/24/president-putin-signs-new-law-against-transgender-banning-sex-change-russia |title=President Putin Signs New Law Against Transgender, Banning Sex Change In Russia |date=24 July 2023 |work=Sahara Reporters |access-date=26 July 2023 |archive-date=26 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230726141017/https://saharareporters.com/2023/07/24/president-putin-signs-new-law-against-transgender-banning-sex-change-russia |url-status=live }}

In July 2023, Russia enacted a {{Ill|Law banning gender transition in Russia|lt=law banning gender transition|ru|Закон о запрете трансгендерного перехода в России}}, which includes the following provisions:{{Cite news |last=MacFarquhar |first=Neil |date=July 24, 2023 |title=Putin signs a harsh new law targeting transgender people in Russia. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/24/world/europe/putin-transgender-transition-surgery-russia.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106172705/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/24/world/europe/putin-transgender-transition-surgery-russia.html |archive-date=January 6, 2024 |access-date=January 6, 2024 |work=The New York Times}}{{Cite news |last1=Birger |first1=Georgy |last2=MacFarquhar |first2=Neil |date=August 1, 2023 |title=Putin's Crackdown Leaves Transgender Russians Bracing for Worse |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/01/world/europe/russia-transgender-ban.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215223925/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/01/world/europe/russia-transgender-ban.html |archive-date=December 15, 2023 |access-date=January 6, 2024 |work=The New York Times}}

• doctors are prevented from offering gender-affirming healthcare and sexual reassignment surgery to any individual, regardless of age.
• changing gender markers on official documents is not allowed.
• people suffering from gender dysphoria have been deprived of the right to adopt children.
• a marriage by a trans individual with a person who shares the same birth sex as them is deemed null.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/russian-president-signs-legislation-outlawing-gender-affirming-procedu-rcna96017 |title=Russian president signs legislation outlawing gender-affirming procedures |website=NBC News |date=24 July 2023 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724200633/https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/russian-president-signs-legislation-outlawing-gender-affirming-procedu-rcna96017 |url-status=live }}

In January 2024, Meduza reported that Russia's MVD had begun bringing transgender people in for questioning. According to one transgender subject, he was questioned about where he got the medical certificate approving his transition, how much it cost, who was on the committee to approve it, and if he had attended any LGBT parties. After answering that he didn't remember the answer to the last question, he was told that they would keep bringing him in until he did.

He was also told that if his approval certificate turned out to be invalid, that he would be forcibly detransitioned.{{Cite news |work=Meduza |url=https://meduza.io/en/news/2024/01/19/russia-s-internal-affairs-ministry-has-reportedly-begun-calling-transgender-people-in-for-questioning |title=Russia's Internal Affairs Ministry has reportedly begun calling transgender people in for questioning}}

File:World laws pertaining to homosexual relationships and expression.svg

[[File:Legislative bans on "propaganda" of LGBT in Russian regions.svg|thumb|350px|Ten Russian regions passed laws banning the distribution of "propaganda" relating to homosexuality, and/or other LGBT relationships, to minors.

{{legend|#aa0000|Ban on the promotion of homosexuality, bisexuality and transidentity}}

{{legend|#d40000|Ban on the promotion of homosexuality and bisexuality}}

{{legend|#ff0000|Ban on the promotion of homosexuality}}

]]

Between 2006 and 2013, ten regions enacted a ban on "propaganda of homosexualism" among minors. The laws of nine of them prescribe punishments of administrative sanctions and/or fines. The laws in some of the regions also forbid so-called "propaganda of bisexualism and transgenderism" to minors. As of May 2013 the regions that had enacted these various laws, and the years in which they had passed the laws, included: Ryazan Oblast (2006), Arkhangelsk Oblast (2011), Saint Petersburg (2012), Kostroma Oblast (2012), Magadan Oblast (2012), Novosibirsk Oblast (2012), Krasnodar Krai (2012), Samara Oblast (2012), Bashkortostan (2012),Bashkortostan is the only region where the law does not include any kind of administrative sanctions or fines. and Kaliningrad Oblast (February 2013).Kaliningrad Oblast's measure bans "propaganda of homosexualism" not only among minors, but among the population in general. Then, Arkhangelsk (2013) and Saint Petersburg (2014) removed the law.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

In 2019, Russia cut and censored gay sex scenes in the movie musical Rocketman based on the life of British singer Elton John, a decision he criticized, saying it is "cruelly unaccepting of the love between two people."{{Cite web|url=http://news.trust.org/item/20190531215506-iaz7d/|title=Elton John slams Russian cuts to 'Rocketman' gay scenes|publisher=Thomson Reuters Foundation|website=news.trust.org|access-date=2019-07-10|archive-date=2 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602163551/http://news.trust.org/item/20190531215506-iaz7d/|url-status=live}}

{{Main|Russian anti-LGBT law}}

Federal laws passed on 29 June 2013 ban the distribution of "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships" among minors.{{Cite Russian law|ru_entity=Российская Федерация|ru_type=Федеральный закон|ru_number=436-ФЗ|ru_date=24 декабря 2010 г.|ru_title=О защите детей от информации, причиняющей вред их здоровью и развитию|ru_effective_date=с 1 сентября 2012 года|ru_published_in=Официальный интернет-портал правовой информации (www.pravo.gov.ru) от 30 June 2013 г. (№ 0001201306300001)|ru_published_date=29 декабря 2010 г.|ru_url=http://pravo.gov.ru/proxy/ips/?docbody=&vkart=card&nd=102281181&rdk=&backlink=1|ru_amendment_type=Федерального закона|ru_amendment_number=135-ФЗ|ru_amendment_date=29 июня 2013 г.|ru_amendment_title=[http://pravo.gov.ru/proxy/ips/?docbody=&vkart=card&nd=102337335&rdk=&intelsearch=135-%D4%C7 О внесении изменений в статью 5 Федерального закона "О защите детей от информации, причиняющей вред их здоровью и развитию" и отдельные законодательные акты Российской Федерации в целях защиты детей от информации, пропагандирующей отрицание традиционных семейных ценностей]|en_entity=The Russian Federation|en_type=Federal law|en_number=436-FZ|en_date=24 December 2010|en_title=On the protection of children from information harmful to their health and development|en_effective_date=1 September 2012|en_url=|en_amendment_type=Federal law|en_amendment_number=135-FZ|en_amendment_date=29 June 2013|en_amendment_title=On the introduction of amendments to Article 5 of the Federal law "On the protection of children from information harmful to their health and development" and divers legislative acts of the Russian Federation aimed at protecting children from information which propagandises the rejection of traditional family values}}{{cite web |date=11 June 2013 |title=Госдума приняла закон о "нетрадиционных отношениях" |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/russian/russia/2013/06/130611_duma_gay_propaganda.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301045821/http://www.bbc.co.uk/russian/russia/2013/06/130611_duma_gay_propaganda.shtml?print=1 |archive-date=1 March 2014 |access-date=11 June 2013 |publisher=BBC Russia}}{{cite web |date=11 June 2013 |title=ГД приняла закон об усилении наказания за пропаганду гомосексуализма среди подростков |url=http://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/20130611172814.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003040126/http://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/20130611172814.shtml?print |archive-date=3 October 2013 |access-date=11 June 2013 |publisher=РБК}} Critics contend the law makes illegal holding any sort of public demonstration in favour of gay rights, speak in defence of LGBT rights, and distribute material related to LGBT culture, or to state that same-sex relationships are equal to heterosexual relationships.{{cite news |date=2 July 2013 |title=Putin signs 'blasphemy' and 'gay propaganda' bills |newspaper=The Moscow Times |url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/putin-signs-blasphemy-and-gay-propaganda-bills/482516.html |access-date=9 September 2013 |archive-date=17 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417035152/http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/putin-signs-blasphemy-and-gay-propaganda-bills/482516.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |date=5 September 2013 |title=Russia: Use Leadership to Repeal Discriminatory Propaganda Law |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/09/05/russia-use-leadership-repeal-discriminatory-propaganda-law |access-date=7 November 2013 |publisher=Human Rights Watch |archive-date=1 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201035902/https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/09/05/russia-use-leadership-repeal-discriminatory-propaganda-law |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Nakamura |first=David |date=6 September 2013 |title=Obama meets with gay rights activists in Russia |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/09/06/obama-meets-with-gay-rights-activists-in-russia/ |access-date=7 November 2013 |newspaper=The Washington Post |archive-date=13 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150513205328/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/09/06/obama-meets-with-gay-rights-activists-in-russia/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Alpert |first=Lukas I. |date=11 June 2013 |title=Russia passes bill banning gay 'propaganda' |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323495604578539220032220406 |access-date=8 August 2017 |archive-date=20 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190520040958/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323495604578539220032220406 |url-status=live }} Additionally the laws have received international condemnation from human rights campaigners, and media outlets that even display of LGBT symbols, such as the rainbow flag, have resulted in arrests, and incited homophobic violence.

The law subjects Russian citizens found guilty to fines of up to 5,000 roubles and public officials to fines of up to 50,000 roubles.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}} Organisations or businesses will 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, as well as fined up to 100,000 rubles. Russian citizens who have used the Internet or media to promote "non-traditional relations" will be fined up to 100,000 rubles.

The statute amended a law that is said to protect children from pornography and other "harmful information".{{cite news |last=Rose |first=Scott |date=1 July 2013 |title=Putin signs law banning gay 'propaganda' among children |newspaper=Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-30/putin-signs-law-banning-gay-propaganda-among-children.html |access-date=8 March 2017 |archive-date=12 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112022900/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-30/putin-signs-law-banning-gay-propaganda-among-children.html |url-status=live }} One of the authors of the statute, Yelena Mizulina, who is the chair of the Duma's Committee on Family, Women, and Children and who has been described by some as a moral crusader,{{cite news |last=Sonne |first=Paul |title=Parody painting of Putin in women's underwear seized in Russian raid |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2013/08/27/parody-painting-of-putin-in-womens-underwear-seized/ |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=27 August 2013 |access-date=4 August 2017 |archive-date=11 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811145243/https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2013/08/27/parody-painting-of-putin-in-womens-underwear-seized/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Mills |first=Laura |title=Morality crusader fuels the fire |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/Morality+crusader+fuels+fire/8773256/story.html |newspaper=The Vancouver Sun |date=10 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030144710/http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Morality+crusader+fuels+fire/8773256/story.html |archive-date=30 October 2013}}{{cite news |last=Lipman |first=Masha |title=The battle over Russia's anti-gay law |url=http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2013/08/the-battle-over-russias-anti-gay-law.html |newspaper=The New Yorker |date=11 August 2013 |access-date=10 September 2013 |archive-date=6 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106005344/http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2013/08/the-battle-over-russias-anti-gay-law.html |url-status=live }} told lawmakers as the bill was being considered, "Traditional sexual relations are relations between a man and a woman.... These relations need special protection". Mizulina argued that a recent poll had shown 88% of the public were in support of the bill.{{cite news |last=Flintoff |first=Corey |title=Russian parliament may pass anti-gay law |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=193194578 |newspaper=NPR |date=18 June 2013 |access-date=3 April 2018 |archive-date=7 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107125542/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=193194578 |url-status=live }}

File:В.В. Милонов.jpg. Milonov is interviewed in the 2014 American documentary film Campaign of Hate: Russia and Gay Propaganda.]]

File:Total fertility rate in Russia.png

Commenting on the bill prior to its passage, President Putin said, during a visit to Amsterdam in April 2013, "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".{{cite news |date=13 August 2013 |title=Q&A: Gay rights in Russia |work=BBC News Online |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23604142 |access-date=20 June 2018 |archive-date=6 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406024203/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23604142 |url-status=live }} He went on to say that he fully intended to sign the bill because the Russian people demanded it. 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." Putin also mentioned that he was concerned about Russia's low birth-rate and that same-sex relationships do not produce children.

Critics say that the statute is written so broadly that it is in effect a complete ban on the gay rights movement and any public expression of LGBT culture.

In July 2013, four Dutch tourists were arrested for allegedly discussing gay rights with Russian youths. The four were arrested for allegedly spreading "propaganda of nontraditional relationships among the under-aged" after talking to teens at a camp in the northern city of Murmansk.{{cite magazine |url=https://world.time.com/2013/08/05/russia-faults-in-first-test-of-anti-gay-propaganda-law-but-future-remains-bleak/ |title=Russia's Anti-Gay Laws: How a Dutch Activist Got Caught in the Crosshairs |magazine=Time |date=5 August 2013 |access-date=24 September 2013 |archive-date=20 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020171117/http://world.time.com/2013/08/05/russia-faults-in-first-test-of-anti-gay-propaganda-law-but-future-remains-bleak/ |url-status=live }}

After the law was passed, enforcement started slowly, with only a few cases each year, mainly against individuals sharing pro-LGBT messages or images. By the late 2010s, the number of cases grew, and authorities began targeting not just activists but also journalists, websites, and businesses for content such as rainbow imagery, interviews with LGBT people, or LGBT-themed products. Fines were issued for posting same-sex couple photos or expressing pride in LGBT identity. In one 2023 case, a woman was fined over $10,000 for sharing scenes from a film and music video that showed same-sex romance.{{Cite journal |last=Katsuba |first=Sergey |title=Russian “Gay Propaganda Law”: A Comprehensive Qualitative Analysis of the Legislation and Case Law |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/10758216.2025.2487577 |journal=Problems of Post-Communism |volume=0 |issue=0 |pages=1–14 |doi=10.1080/10758216.2025.2487577 |issn=1075-8216}}

In March 2018 the Russian authorities forbade the biggest gay website Gay.ru because of "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relationships".{{cite web|url=https://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/5abe321c9a79471c0e95d28f|title=Роскомнадзор внес сайт Gay.ru в реестр запрещенных ресурсов|language=ru|work=RBC|date=2018-03-30|access-date=13 April 2018|archive-date=15 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215103056/https://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/5abe321c9a79471c0e95d28f|url-status=live}}

In December 2022, an amendment to the propaganda law was signed into law by Putin,{{cite web |title=Путин подписал закон о запрете "пропаганды нетрадиционных сексуальных отношений и смены пола" |trans-title="Putin signed the law about the ban of 'propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations and gender change'" |url=https://zona.media/news/2022/12/05/prop |access-date=5 December 2022 |website=Mediazona |language=ru |archive-date=5 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205140122/https://zona.media/news/2022/12/05/prop |url-status=live }} extending it to all age groups. It also prohibits the distribution of materials that promote "pedophilia", or give minors a "desire to change their sex".{{Cite news |date=2022-10-27 |title=Russia to ban sharing LGBT 'propaganda' with adults as well as children |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63410127 |access-date=2022-10-29 |archive-date=25 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125052112/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63410127 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Russia Wants to Ban Any Positive Discussion of LGBTQ People |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/russia-lgbt-law/ |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=Vice.com |date=26 October 2022 |language=en |archive-date=24 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221124131128/https://www.vice.com/en/article/g5vmeb/russia-lgbt-law |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=27 October 2022 |title=Russian Lawmakers Vote in Favor of 'LGBT Propaganda' Expansion |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/10/27/russian-lawmakers-vote-in-favor-of-anti-lgbt-bill-a79209 |access-date=2022-10-28 |website=The Moscow Times |language=en |archive-date=5 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205054845/https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/10/27/russian-lawmakers-vote-in-favor-of-anti-lgbt-bill-a79209 |url-status=live }} Enforcement of the law was also subsequently increased. In 2023 alone, there were more than 180 cases, a number greater than all the cases from 2013 to 2022 combined. Fines that year totaled around 26 million rubles, compared to the 7 million rubles issued over the previous nine years. Media platforms, streaming services, and social networks were fined for showing LGBT content; some were ordered to pay hundreds of thousands of rubles. Individual citizens also received harsher penalties.

In February 2023, the Russian government introduced the AI program Oculus to scan the internet for illegal content, including “LGBT propaganda.”{{Cite news |url= https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-system-scan-internet-undesired-content-dissent-2023-02-13/ |title= Russian system to scan internet for undesired content and dissent |work= Reuters |date= Feb 13, 2023 |access-date= 16 February 2023 |archive-date= 16 February 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230216060417/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-system-scan-internet-undesired-content-dissent-2023-02-13/ |url-status= live }}{{cite news |last1=Vainilavičius |first1=Justinas |title=Russia launches "Oculus" tool to monitor banned information online |url=https://cybernews.com/news/russia-oculus-tool-lgbt-ukraine/ |access-date=27 April 2023 |work=CyberNews |date=15 February 2023 |archive-date=23 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230323054456/https://cybernews.com/news/russia-oculus-tool-lgbt-ukraine/ |url-status=live }}

In November 2023, Russia's Supreme Court declared the "international LGBT movement" an extremist organisation, following a Ministry of Justice lawsuit citing "various signs of an extremist orientation." This decision raised concerns for LGBTQ+ individuals and organisations in Russia, as it could lead to criminal prosecution for simple acts like displaying the rainbow flag, and was seen as part of President Putin's campaign to emphasize "Russian traditional values." The ruling has been criticized by human rights groups, including Amnesty International, as "shameful and absurd."{{Cite web |last=MacFarquhar |first=Neil |date=November 30, 2023 |title=Russia Declares Gay Rights Movement as 'Extremist' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/30/world/europe/russia-gay-rights-law.html |website=The New York Times}}

Several gay club owners have since been arrested for violating various "anti-extremist" provisions of the Russian Criminal Code, with at least one dying in custody as of April 2025.{{cite web |last1=Vasilyeva |first1=Nataliya |last2=Lobzina |first2=Alina |title=A Prison Death Highlights an L.G.B.T.Q. Crackdown in Russia |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/01/world/europe/russia-lgbtq-gay-prison-death-andrei-kotov.html |website=The New York Times |date=1 April 2025 |access-date=5 April 2025}}{{cite web |last1=Abby |first1=Monteil |title=Russian Gay Bar Owner Arrested on LGBTQ+ “Extremism” Charges |url=https://www.them.us/story/russia-lgbtq-bar-owner-arrested |website=them |date=2 April 2024 |access-date=5 April 2025}} Karèn Shainyan, a prominent LGBTQ rights activist was added to the "terrorist and extremist" list in July 2023, despite not being affiliated with any particular LGBTQ advocacy group. He had been designated as such 4 months before the Ministry of Justice filed a corresponding lawsuit.{{cite web |title=Journalist Shainyan added to Russia’s list of terrorists and extremists |url=https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2023/07/14/journalist-shainyan-added-to-russias-list-of-terrorists-and-extremists-en-news |website=Novaya Gazeta Europe |date=14 July 2023 |access-date=5 April 2025}}

On 22 March 2024, the "international LGBT social movement and its structural units” was added to the "unified list of terrorist and extremist organizations and persons".

File:Antiwar Democratic March in St. Petersburg on 1 May 2014 (100 3452).JPG protest march, 1 May 2014]]

According to a survey conducted in June 2013 by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM), at least 90% of those surveyed were in favor of the law.{{cite news |last=Herszenhorn |first=David M. |title=Gays in Russia find no haven, despite support from the West |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/12/world/europe/gays-in-russia-find-no-haven-despite-support-from-the-west.html?pagewanted=all |newspaper=The New York Times |date=11 August 2013 |access-date=27 February 2017 |archive-date=10 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410004758/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/12/world/europe/gays-in-russia-find-no-haven-despite-support-from-the-west.html?pagewanted=all |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Weaver |first=Courtney |title=Russia gay propaganda law fuels homophobic attacks |newspaper=Financial Times |date=16 August 2013 }}

Russian historian and human rights activist Lyudmila Alexeyeva has called it "a step toward the Middle Ages".

In January 2016, the State Duma rejected a proposal by the Communist Party to punish people who publicly express their homosexuality with fines and arrests.{{cite news|url=http://www.rferl.org/a/russia-duma-rejects-antigay-coming-out-bill/27562736.html|title=Russian Duma Rejects Bill Criminalizing Gay 'Coming Out'|work=Radio Free Europe|date=February 19, 2016|access-date=16 May 2017|archive-date=30 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730081016/https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-duma-rejects-antigay-coming-out-bill/27562736.html|url-status=live}}

{{See also|LGBT rights protests surrounding the 2014 Winter Olympics}}

File:Russian Embassy in Helsinki, LGBT pavement.jpg

International human rights organisations and the governments of developed democracies around the world have strongly condemned this Russian law.{{cite web |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/news/russia-lgbti-g20-2013-09-04 |title=G20 leaders must reject Russia's homophobic law |publisher=Amnesty International |date=4 September 2013 |access-date=7 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001173348/http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/russia-lgbti-g20-2013-09-04 |archive-date=1 October 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://americablog.com/2013/06/human-rights-watch-blasts-olympics-over-growing-anti-gay-hate-in-russia.html |title=Human Rights Watch blasts Olympics over growing Russian anti-gay hate |publisher=Americablog.com |date=20 June 2013 |access-date=7 November 2013 |archive-date=10 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110144201/http://americablog.com/2013/06/human-rights-watch-blasts-olympics-over-growing-anti-gay-hate-in-russia.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/08/15/danish-government-warns-russia-over-anti-gay-law/ |title=Danish Government warns Russia over anti-gay law |newspaper=PinkNews |date=15 August 2013 |access-date=7 November 2013 |archive-date=14 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114162412/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/08/15/danish-government-warns-russia-over-anti-gay-law/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/australian-foreign-minister-condemns-russia%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%9Cgay-propaganda%E2%80%9D-ban230813/ |title=Australian Foreign Minister condemns Russia's "gay propaganda" ban |newspaper=Gay Star News |date=23 August 2013 |author=Andrew Potts |access-date=14 November 2015 |archive-date=25 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225183920/https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/australian-foreign-minister-condemns-russia%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%9Cgay-propaganda%E2%80%9D-ban230813/ |url-status=dead }} The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has condemned this Russian statute and another similar one in Moldova (which was later repealed) as discriminatory and has made clear that the Russian statute in question is a violation of international human rights law, including the right of gay children to receive proper information.{{cite news |url=http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/moldova-repeals-%E2%80%98gay-propaganda%E2%80%99-ban141013/ |title=Moldova repeals 'gay propaganda' ban |newspaper=Gay Star News |date=14 October 2013 |author=Andrew Potts |access-date=14 November 2015 |archive-date=16 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216040850/https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/moldova-repeals-%E2%80%98gay-propaganda%E2%80%99-ban141013/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://76crimes.com/2013/08/18/u-n-rights-office-rejects-anti-gay-laws-of-russia-moldava/ |title=U.N. rights office rejects anti-gay laws of Russia, Moldava |publisher=76 CRIMES |date=18 August 2013 |access-date=7 November 2013 |archive-date=29 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029201705/http://76crimes.com/2013/08/18/u-n-rights-office-rejects-anti-gay-laws-of-russia-moldava/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://southfloridagaynews.com/articles/united-nations-asks-russia-to-kill-anti-gay-propaganda-bill/108674 |title=United Nations Asks Russia to Kill Anti-Gay 'Propaganda' Bill |newspaper=South Florida Gay News |date=August 2013 |access-date=7 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927163842/http://southfloridagaynews.com/articles/united-nations-asks-russia-to-kill-anti-gay-propaganda-bill/108674 |archive-date=27 September 2013 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=12964&LangID=E |title=UN rights experts advise Russian Duma to scrap bill on 'homosexuality propaganda' |publisher=Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights |date=1 February 2013 |access-date=7 November 2013 |archive-date=15 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215215659/https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=12964&LangID=E |url-status=live }}{{cite web |author=Dan Littauer |url=http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/german-and-eu-foreign-ministers-slam-russia-gay-rights300113 |title=German and EU foreign ministers slam Russia on gay rights |publisher=Gay Star News |year=2013 |access-date=7 November 2013 |archive-date=28 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928065650/http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/german-and-eu-foreign-ministers-slam-russia-gay-rights300113 |url-status=dead }} The European Parliament has condemned Russia for homophobic discrimination and censorship{{cite web |url=http://secular-europe-campaign.org/2013/08/eu-the-european-parliament-has-adopted-a-resolution-condemning-russian-homophobic-censorship-law/ |title=EU: The European Parliament has adopted a resolution condemning Russian homophobic censorship law |publisher=Secular Europe Campaign |date=6 August 2013 |access-date=7 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029202326/http://secular-europe-campaign.org/2013/08/eu-the-european-parliament-has-adopted-a-resolution-condemning-russian-homophobic-censorship-law/ |archive-date=29 October 2013 |url-status=dead }} and the Council of Europe has called on Russia to protect LGBT rights properly.{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-europe-lgbt-idUSBRE94L0IY20130522 |title=Council of Europe head says Russia must protect LGBT rights |publisher=Reuters |date=22 May 2013 |access-date=7 November 2013 |archive-date=14 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114213238/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-europe-lgbt-idUSBRE94L0IY20130522 |url-status=live }} The European Court of Human Rights had previously fined Russia for other infringements of LGBT rights.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11598590 |title=European court fines Russia for banning gay parades |newspaper=BBC News Online |date=21 October 2010 |access-date=7 November 2013 |archive-date=2 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002201959/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11598590 |url-status=live }} In 2012 the UN Human Rights Committee ruled that a similar statute in the Russia's Ryazan Region was discriminatory, infringed on freedom of expression, and was inadmissible under international law – a Russian court in Ryazan later agreed and struck it down.{{cite web |url=http://www.ijrcenter.org/2012/12/03/un-human-rights-committee-homosexual-propaganda-conviction-violated-freedom-of-expression/#sthash.KfCC9EKW.dpbs |title=UN Human Rights Committee: "Homosexual Propaganda" Conviction Violated Freedom of Expression |publisher=International Justice Resource Center |date=3 December 2012 |access-date=7 November 2013 |archive-date=27 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927070047/http://www.ijrcenter.org/2012/12/03/un-human-rights-committee-homosexual-propaganda-conviction-violated-freedom-of-expression/#sthash.KfCC9EKW.dpbs |url-status=live }}{{cite web |author=Jean Ann Esselink |url=http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/a-russian-court-has-struck-down-a-russian-citys-gay-propaganda-law/news/2013/10/03/76206 |title=A Russian court has struck down a Russian city's 'Gay Propaganda' law |publisher=The New Civil Rights Movement |date=3 October 2013 |access-date=7 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101110054/http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/a-russian-court-has-struck-down-a-russian-citys-gay-propaganda-law/news/2013/10/03/76206 |archive-date=1 November 2013 |url-status=dead}} Some members of the gay community commenced a boycott of Russian goods, particularly Russian vodka.{{cite news |last=Dodds |first=Eric |title=The Faulty Logic of the Russian-Vodka Boycott |url=https://nation.time.com/2013/08/05/the-faulty-logic-of-the-russian-vodka-boycott/ |newspaper=Time |date=5 August 2013 |access-date=12 September 2013 |archive-date=25 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025080903/http://nation.time.com/2013/08/05/the-faulty-logic-of-the-russian-vodka-boycott/ |url-status=live }}

Many Western celebrities and activists are openly opposed to the law and have encouraged a boycott of Russian products – notably Russian vodka – as well as a boycott of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, which were scheduled to be held in Sochi, unless the Games were relocated out of Russia.{{cite news |last1=Smith-Spark |first1=Laura |last2=Black |first2=Phil |title=Protests, boycott calls as anger grows over Russia anti-gay propaganda laws |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/01/world/europe/russia-gay-rights-controversy |work=CNN |date=4 August 2013 |access-date=9 September 2013 |archive-date=15 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215155907/https://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/01/world/europe/russia-gay-rights-controversy |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/08/05/lady-gaga-the-russian-government-is-criminal-in-its-oppression-of-lgbt-people/ |title=Lady Gaga: The Russian Government is criminal in its oppression of LGBT people|first=Scott|last=Roberts |newspaper=PinkNews |date=5 August 2013 |access-date=7 November 2013 |archive-date=6 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006213649/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/08/05/lady-gaga-the-russian-government-is-criminal-in-its-oppression-of-lgbt-people/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.stephenfry.com/2013/08/07/an-open-letter-to-david-cameron-and-the-ioc/ |title=An Open Letter to David Cameron and the IOC |publisher=Stephen Fry |date=7 August 2013 |access-date=7 November 2013 |archive-date=3 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103210305/http://www.stephenfry.com/2013/08/07/an-open-letter-to-david-cameron-and-the-ioc/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Crary |first1=David |last2=Leff |first2=Lisa |title=Russia's anti-gay laws impact Olympics, vodka sales |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/29/russia-gay-laws-olympics-_n_3672746.html |newspaper=The Huffington Post |date=29 July 2013 |access-date=9 September 2013 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305021917/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/29/russia-gay-laws-olympics-_n_3672746.html |url-status=live }}

United States President Barack Obama said that while he did not favour boycotting the Sochi Olympics over the law, "Nobody's more offended than me about some of the anti-gay and lesbian legislation that you've been seeing in Russia".{{cite news |last=Nakamura |first=David |title=Obama meets with gay rights activists in Russia |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/09/06/obama-meets-with-gay-rights-activists-in-russia/ |date=6 September 2013 |access-date=2 September 2017 |archive-date=13 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150513205328/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/09/06/obama-meets-with-gay-rights-activists-in-russia/ |url-status=live }} Obama subsequently, in September 2013, met with Russian gay rights activists during a visit to St. Petersburg to attend a meeting of the G-20 nations' leaders. Obama said that he was proud of the work the activists were doing. His aides had said that Obama's opposition to the anti-gay propaganda law was one reason Obama had canceled a meeting previously planned to have been held with Russian President Putin during the trip.

The law was also condemned by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and German cabinet secretaries,{{cite news |title=German ministers say Russian gay law smacks of dictatorship |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-gays-germany-idUSBRE97B0JS20130812 |work=Reuters |date=12 August 2013 |access-date=5 July 2021 |archive-date=18 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518202105/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-gays-germany-idUSBRE97B0JS20130812 |url-status=live }} British Prime Minister David Cameron,{{cite news |title=David Cameron rejects Stephen Fry's call for Russian Winter Olympics boycott |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/10235001/David-Cameron-rejects-Stephen-Frys-call-for-Russian-Winter-Olympics-boycott.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/10235001/David-Cameron-rejects-Stephen-Frys-call-for-Russian-Winter-Olympics-boycott.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=10 August 2013 }}{{cbignore}} Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr,{{cite news |last=Potts |first=Andrew |title=Australian foreign minister condemns Russia's 'gay propaganda' ban |newspaper=Gay Star News |url=http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/australian-foreign-minister-condemns-russia%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%9Cgay-propaganda%E2%80%9D-ban230813 |date=23 August 2013 |access-date=9 September 2013 |archive-date=25 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225183920/https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/australian-foreign-minister-condemns-russia%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%9Cgay-propaganda%E2%80%9D-ban230813/ |url-status=dead }} as well as Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird.{{cite news |title=Harper joins controversy over Russia's anti-gay law |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/foreign-minister-baird-concerned-for-olympic-athletes-going-to-russia/article13690657/ |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=9 August 2013 |access-date=2 September 2017 |archive-date=11 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411040052/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/foreign-minister-baird-concerned-for-olympic-athletes-going-to-russia/article13690657/ |url-status=live }}

{{more citations needed|section|date=December 2023}}

{{Portal|LGBTQ|Russia}}

{{div col begin}}

• Human rights in Russia
• LGBT rights in Asia
• LGBT rights in Europe
• LGBT culture in Russia
• LGBT history in Russia
• LGBT rights in Chechnya
• LGBT Human Rights Project Gayrussia.ru
• List of LGBT books banned in Russia
• Moscow Helsinki Watch Group
• Nikolay Alexeyev
• Recognition of same-sex unions in Russia
• Think of the children
• Vitaly Milonov
• Russian LGBT Network

{{div col end}}

{{reflist|group=note}}

{{Reflist}}

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| license = CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

}}

• {{cite book|last1=Duberman|first1=Martin|last2=Vicinus|first2=Martha|last3=Chauncey|first3=George|author1-link=Martin Duberman|author3-link=George Chauncey|title=Hidden from history: reclaiming the gay and lesbian past|year=1989|publisher=New York: New American Library|isbn=978-0-453-00689-7|oclc=19669484|ref=Dub89|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/hiddenfromhisto100dube}}
• {{cite journal |last=Engelstein |first=Laura |author-link=Laura Engelstein |title=Soviet Policy Toward Male Homosexuality: Its Origins and Historical Roots |journal=Journal of Homosexuality |volume=29 |issue=2–3 |pages=155–178 |publisher=Hayworth Press |location=Philadelphia |date=1995 |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8666753/ |issn=1540-3602 |doi=10.1300/J082v29n02_06 |pmid=8666753 |access-date=13 December 2023}}
• {{cite web|last1=Petrov|first1=Igor|last2=Kirichenko|first2=Ksenia|title=Discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in Russia|work=Report by the [http://www.mhg.ru/english Moscow Helsinki Group] in cooperation with the [http://lgbtnet.ru/ Russian LGBT Network]|date=5 April 2009|url=http://lgbtnet.ru/news/detail.php?ID=4336|access-date=25 May 2009|ref=LGBTReport2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110601043745/http://www.lgbtnet.ru/news/detail.php?ID=4336|archive-date=1 June 2011|url-status=dead}}

{{Refend}}

{{See also|Bibliography of Russian history (1991-present)}}

• {{Citation | vauthors=((Bubola, E.)) | date=December 5, 2022 | website=The New York Times | title=Putin Signs Law Banning Expressions of L.G.B.T.Q. Identity in Russia | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/05/world/europe/russia-ban-lgbtq-propaganda.html | access-date=7 January 2023}}
• Clark, F. (2014). "Discrimination against LGBT people triggers health concerns." Lancet, 383(9916), 500–502.
• {{cite journal |first=Eric Allen |last=Engle |title=Gay Rights in Russia? Russia's Ban on Gay Pride Parades and the General Principle of Proportionality in International Law |year=2013 |volume=6 |issue=2 |journal=Journal of Eurasian Law |pages=165–186 |ssrn=2296803 }}
• {{Citation | vauthors=((Ilyushina, M.)), ((Gelman, M.)) | date=January 7, 2023 | newspaper=The Washington Post | title=Moscow's war in Ukraine brought harsh tactics against gay Russians at home | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/01/07/russia-war-gay-persecution-homophobia/ | access-date=7 January 2023}}

{{Commons category|LGBT rights in Russia}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120314172817/http://www.gayrussia.eu/ LGBT Human Rights Project GayRussia.Ru (en)(ru)]
• [http://www.gay.ru/ Russian National Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual Website (ru)]
• [https://archive.today/20070712075348/http://old.exile.ru/2007-June-15/russophobe_homo.html Is HOMO what OMON sees in the mirror? – The eXile (en)]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080706005831/http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/russia,8.html LGBT History: Russia (en)]
• [http://english.gay.ru/news/rainbow/2004/02/14-10528.htm State Duma rejected "sexual hatred" to be the reason for criminal prosecution 14 February 2004 (en)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106011349/http://english.gay.ru/news/rainbow/2004/02/14-10528.htm |date=6 November 2013 }}
• [http://english.gay.ru/news/rainbow/2004/05/22-10508.htm Bashkortostan Parliament's deputy proposes legitimating homosexual marriages 22 May 2004 (en)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106011632/http://english.gay.ru/news/rainbow/2004/05/22-10508.htm |date=6 November 2013 }}
• [https://xtramagazine.com/power/gay-and-lesbian-parents-afraid-to-send-kids-to-school-in-russia-61346 Gay and lesbian parents afraid to send kids to school in Russia], Xtra Magazine, 14 June 2014 (en)

{{LGBTQ in Russia}}

{{Russia topics}}

{{Soviet Union topics}}

{{LGBTQ rights in Europe}}

{{Asia in topic|LGBTQ rights in}}

{{LGBTQ|state=collapsed|rights=expanded}}

Category:Discrimination against transgender people

Category:Law of Russia

sah:Арассыыйаҕа ЛГБТ көҥүлэ