Russia

LGBTIQ people in Russia face numerous obstacles, ranging from pervasive negative societal attitudes to restrictive legislation. In 2012, the so-called Foreign Agent Law was passed, imposing severe restrictions on any civil society organization receiving foreign funding, disproportionately affecting LGBTIQ organizations. In 2013, the notorious federal-level law prohibiting the “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations to minors” took effect. It bans any communication about the existence of LGBTIQ people or LGBTIQ issues to children, whether in the media or online. In effect, it has been used to ban any activities by LGBTIQ organizations, shut down LGBTIQ websites, and even target authors of posts on social media, leading some to self-censor. In December 2022, the Russian Duma strengthened the 2013 law, now prohibiting all public information or activity that positively or accurately depicts LGBTIQ people, as well as “displaying non-heterosexual orientation.” In 2021, same-sex marriage was banned, and same-sex couples were prohibited by law from adopting children. The adoption of Russian orphans is also banned for prospective parents in countries that allow same-sex marriage. These laws have sent a strong and unambiguous signal that LGBTIQ people are a threat to children.

In July 2023, the Russian Duma passed legislation to prohibit gender-affirming health care and annulled the marriages of trans people. Furthermore, the law prohibits legal gender recognition and bars transgender people from adopting or being legal guardians of children. In November 2023, the Russian Supreme Court ruled that the “international LGBT movement” was an “extremist organization,” effectively outlawing LGBTIQ activism in the country, with jail terms of up to 12 years. The first arrests under this new law were reported in March 2024.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, national LGBTIQ activists in Kherson have reported on the abuse and harassment of LGBTIQ+ Ukrainians in the Russian-occupied territories in the east and south. 

*Outright research indicates that the bodily autonomy of intersex people is not respected and protected in this country.