The Russian Ministry of Justice filed a lawsuit to ban the “LGBT movement international” in Russia on November 17. It considers, without pointing out specific cases, that various signs and manifestations of extremist orientation, “including incitement to social and religious discord” have been detected in the activities of the LGBT movement in Russia.
In Russia there is no collective to present itself as a global “LGBT movement”. But a few days ago, following the Russian Justice Ministry’s proposal to outlaw a “global LGBT movement,” a group of Russian gay activists challenged the government by announcing the creation of such an organization.
The department did not specify what exactly it considers a “movement,” who is part of it, or how it is organized. Representatives of homosexual and transgender people fear that lead to arrests and prosecutions. The move is a further step in Russia’s growing restrictions on expressions of sexual orientation and gender identity, building on crackdowns that began nationwide with the law against gay propaganda 10 years ago.
In the LGBT community they believe that any psychological or legal support for members of the gay community is now in danger. Even meetings in which just talking can be a crime. Activists fear that a ban on the “LGBT movement” could lead to increased hatred and intimidation against the community and will likely lead to the persecution of LGBT people simply for the very fact of their existence. Suicides in this group, activists warn, can increase with this increasingly hostile climate.
The scope of the law is still unclear, and critics believe it will be applied selectively. Several human rights organizations have already reported a sharp increase in the number of requests they have received from members of the LGBT community wishing to leave the country.