Russia’s Supreme Court Outlaws LGBTQ+ Activism, Igniting Outcry
In a striking blow to LGBTQ+ rights, Russia’s Supreme Court has effectively outlawed LGBTQ+ activism in the country. The move, which has been deemed the most drastic step against advocates of gay, lesbian, and transgender rights in Russia, comes as the nation continues down a conservative path under President Vladimir Putin.
The ruling, in response to a lawsuit filed by the Justice Ministry, labels the LGBTQ+ “movement” operating in Russia as an extremist organization and bans it. Notably, the ruling comes after a decade-long crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights in Russia, with President Putin emphasizing “traditional family values” during his 24 years in power.
Thursday’s closed-door hearing, which lasted four hours, saw no one besides Justice Ministry representatives allowed in. Journalists were only permitted into the courtroom for the reading of the verdict by Judge Oleg Nefedov, who wore a face mask for health reasons. The case was classified, and no evidence was disclosed by the ministry, except that authorities had identified “signs and manifestations of an extremist nature” in the movement, including “incitement of social and religious discord.”
As the news of the ruling spread, several media outlets and rights groups in Russia added rainbow symbols to their logos on social media in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community. In contrast, the Russian Orthodox Church praised the ruling as a form of moral self-defense by society against efforts to push “the Christian idea of marriage and family from the public and legal realms.”
International outcry has followed the ruling, with Amnesty International calling it “shameful and absurd,” warning of its potential to lead to a blanket ban on LGBTQ+ organizations and violate freedom of association, expression, and peaceful assembly, leading to discrimination.
Before the ruling, leading Russian human rights groups filed a document with the court, calling the lawsuit “anti-lawful,” discriminatory, and a violation of the constitution and international human rights treaties that Moscow has signed. LGBTQ+ activists said they tried to become a party to the lawsuit but were rebuffed by the court, with human rights advocate Igor Kochetkov describing it as “the end of any kind of justice in Russia, by and large.”
The ruling comes following a series of legislation restricting LGBTQ+ rights in Russia, including a “gay propaganda” law in 2013, constitutional reforms in 2020 that outlawed same-sex marriage, and a law passed this year that prohibited gender transitioning procedures and gender-affirming care for transgender people.
As a result of the ruling, numerous restrictions are set to be imposed, such as participating in, aiding, or funding extremist organizations and publicly endorsing ideas they propagate. This is likely to lead to a decrease in legal, psychological, and other aid and support for LGBTQ+ people in Russia, making the community and its needs less visible.
While some members of the LGBTQ+ community are determined to stay and continue their work, others are considering leaving Russia before they become targeted, with both groups expressing the need for civil society to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in the absence of state support.