Russian authorities have taken steps to declare the LGBTQ+ movement extremist by filing a lawsuit with the Supreme Court.
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The move is seen as a major blow to the already marginalized LGBTQ+ community in Russia, which has faced increasing conservatism in recent years.
The ministry claims to have identified signs of extremism, including incitement of social and religious discord, in the activities of the LGBTQ+ movement.
The Supreme Court will hold a hearing on the lawsuit on November 30.
The specific implications for LGBTQ+ individuals in Russia are unclear, but the move represents the latest in a decade-long crackdown on gay rights under President Vladimir Putin, who has prioritized traditional family values.
Previous measures include the notorious “gay propaganda” law, limits on same-sex marriage, and recently passed legislation banning gender transitioning procedures for trans people.
The legislation prohibited any “medical interventions aimed at changing the sex of a person,” as well as changing one’s gender in official documents and public records. It also amended Russia’s Family Code by listing gender change as a reason to annul a marriage and adding those “who had changed gender” to a list.
“Do we really want to have here, in our country, in Russia, ‘Parent No. 1, No. 2, No. 3’ instead of ‘mom’ and ‘dad?’” Putin said in September 2022 at a ceremony to formalize Moscow’s annexation of four Ukrainian regions. “Do we really want perversions that lead to degradation and extinction to be imposed in our schools from the primary grades?”
Russian authorities deny accusations of discrimination and argue that LGBTQ+ rights are protected by law.
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