海角大神

Russia鈥檚 Supreme Court on Nov. 30 effectively outlawed LGBTQ+ activism, in the most drastic step against advocates of gay, lesbian, and transgender rights in the increasingly conservative country.

In a statement announcing a lawsuit filed to the court earlier this month, the Justice Ministry argued that authorities had identified 鈥渟igns and manifestations of an extremist nature鈥� by an LGBTQ+ 鈥渕ovement鈥� operating in Russia, including 鈥渋ncitement of social and religious discord,鈥� although it offered no details or evidence. In its ruling, the court declared the 鈥渕ovement鈥� to be extremist and banned it in Russia.

The hearing took place behind closed doors and with no defendant. Multiple rights activists have pointed out that the lawsuit targeted the 鈥渋nternational civic LGBT movement,鈥� which is not an entity but rather a broad and vague definition that would allow Russian authorities to crack down on any individuals or groups deemed to be part of the 鈥渕ovement.鈥�

鈥淒espite the fact that the Justice Ministry demands to label a nonexistent organization 鈥� 鈥榯he international civic LGBT movement鈥� 鈥� extremist, in practice it could happen that the Russian authorities, with this court ruling at hand, will enforce it against LGBTQ+ initiatives that work in Russia, considering them a part of this civic movement,鈥� Max Olenichev, a human rights lawyer who works with the Russian LGBTQ+ community, told The Associated Press ahead of the hearing.

Some LGBTQ+ activists have said they sought to become a party to the lawsuit, arguing that it concerns their rights, but were rejected by the court. The Justice Ministry has not responded to a request for comment on the lawsuit.

The Supreme Court ruling is the latest step in a decade-long crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights in Russia begun under President Vladimir Putin, who has put 鈥渢raditional family values鈥� at the cornerstone of his rule.

In 2013, the Kremlin adopted the first legislation restricting LGBTQ+ rights, known as the 鈥済ay propaganda鈥� law, banning any public endorsement of 鈥渘ontraditional sexual relations鈥� among minors. In 2020, constitutional reforms pushed through by Mr. Putin to extend his rule by two more terms also included a provision to outlaw same-sex marriage.

After sending troops into Ukraine in 2022, the Kremlin ramped up its comments about protecting 鈥渢raditional values鈥� from what it called the West鈥檚 鈥渄egrading鈥� influence, in what rights advocates saw as an attempt to legitimize the war. That same year, the authorities adopted a law banning propaganda of 鈥渘ontraditional sexual relations鈥� among adults, also, effectively outlawing any public endorsement of LGBTQ+ people.

Another law passed earlier this year prohibited gender transitioning procedures and gender-affirming care for transgender people. The legislation prohibited any 鈥渕edical interventions aimed at changing the sex of a person,鈥� as well as changing one鈥檚 gender in official documents and public records. It also amended Russia鈥檚 Family Code by listing gender change as a reason to annul a marriage and adding those 鈥渨ho had changed gender鈥� to a list of people who can鈥檛 become foster or adoptive parents.

鈥淒o we really want to have here, in our country, in Russia, 鈥楶arent No. 1, No. 2, No. 3鈥� instead of 鈥榤om鈥� and 鈥榙ad?鈥欌�� Mr. Putin said in September 2022. 鈥淒o we really want perversions that lead to degradation and extinction to be imposed in our schools from the primary grades?鈥�

Authorities have rejected accusations of discrimination against LGBTQ+ people. Earlier this month, Russian media quoted Andrei Loginov, a deputy justice minister, as saying that 鈥渢he rights of LGBT people in Russia are protected鈥� legally. Mr. Loginov spoke in Geneva, while presenting a report on human rights in Russia to the U.N. Human Rights Council, and argued that 鈥渞estraining public demonstration of non-traditional sexual relationships or preferences is not a form of censure for them.鈥�

This story was reported by The Associated Press.