Russia Asks Supreme Court to Designate LGBTQ Movement 'Extremist'

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Facts

  • Russia's Ministry of Justice asked the Supreme Court on Friday to outlaw what it characterized as the 'international LGBT public movement' as extremist. The ministry argued that it has identified 'signs and manifestations of extremist nature' in Russia, including 'incitement of social and religious discord.'1
  • While the specific consequences of such a ruling weren't made clear, this is the latest move in the crackdown on gay rights initiated by President Vladimir Putin, who has made 'traditional family values' a key part of his rule. In 2013, the Kremlin adopted the 'gay propaganda' law, banning any noncritical public depiction of 'nontraditional sexual relations' among minors, and in 2020 outlawed gay marriage.2
  • Moscow's crackdown on left-leaning movements has intensified since it invaded Ukraine, including warning about the West's 'degrading' influence and using the 'extremist' label to open up certain groups to criminal prosecution. In July, it outlawed gender reassignment, with lawmaker Pyotr Tolstoy at the time arguing the law was about 'erecting a barrier to the penetration of Western anti-family ideology.'3
  • That law specifically banned gender-transitioning procedures and 'medical interventions aimed at changing the sex of a person.' It also added gender change as a reason to annul a marriage and added those 'who had changed gender' to a list of people prohibited from fostering or adopting children.2
  • During a speech formalizing the annexation of four Ukrainian regions in September 2022, Putin asked, 'Do we really want to have here, in our country, in Russia, 'Parent No. 1, No. 2, No. 3′ instead of mom' and 'dad?''4
  • In 2022, Russia passed a law for a total ban on what it characterized as LGBTQ 'propaganda' in media, film, and other venues.5

Sources: 1The Guardian, 2NBC, 3Al Jazeera (a), 4El País English and 5Al Jazeera (b).

Narratives

  • Anti-Russia narrative, as provided by The Pink News. Russia under Vladimir Putin has become a hellscape for LGBTQ citizens, which is why there has been a mass exodus of individuals being persecuted. Not only has he banned gender-affirming care and trans people from adopting kids, but he's also put students at risk for simply filming themselves dressed in so-called untraditional ways. This latest development is an authoritarian nightmare for the entire globe.
  • Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by Mirage News. From its laws protecting children and families from gender surgeries to its war in Ukraine, Russia is simply fighting to stop the encroachment of the West's insidious cultural exportation. Moscow isn't anti-progress but rather understands the importance of retaining one's national culture, language, and family-centered religious beliefs. The West doesn't care about culture — it seeks to undermine and overhaul the traditions of every country that hasn't yet bowed down to its elitist demands.

Predictions