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forbidden literature

First Probe Opened Into Breach of Russia’s New ‘LGBT Propaganda’ Law

Russia’s Interior Ministry has opened its first investigation into a breach of the recently expanded law against so-called "LGBT propaganda," State...

Choices Narrow in Russian Bookstores Amid Anti-LGBT Law, Wartime Restrictions

Ordinary Russians are unable to access an increasingly broad range of literature as bookshops and libraries pull titles from their shelves amid a wartime...

online censorship

Russia’s Media Regulator Granted Powers to Block all LGBT Sites

The Russian government has granted its media regulator the authority to block websites containing “LGBT propaganda” without a court order,...

proceed with caution

Russian Social Network VKontakte Adds Warnings to all LGBT Content

Russia’s largest social network VKontakte has started labeling LGBT-themed pages on its site with warnings that they may violate draconian legislation...

opinion Anatoly Buzinsky

Russia's Anti-LGBT Law Is a Dangerous Kremlin Ruse to Stay in Power

The new legislation signed into law by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday banning any favorable public depiction of LGBT relationships or identities...

Stores Pull LGBT-Themed Books as Putin Signs Expanded 'Gay Propaganda' Ban

Russian bookstores have started removing LGBT-themed works from their catalogues after President Vladimir Putin signed a wide-reaching ban on expressions...

Putin Signs Expanded 'Gay Propaganda' Ban

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law expanding the existing ban on so-called “LGBT propaganda” toward the entire population, not just...

Pop-Up Museum Marks ‘End of an Era’ As Anti-LGBT Law Awaits Putin’s Signature

ST. PETERSBURG — A museum about LGBT history opened to visitors in Russia’s second-largest city this week — but it looked set to be accessible...

climate of fear

Ukraine War Fuels ‘Fear and Anxiety’ for Russia’s Trans Community

Transgender and non-binary people in Russia have faced rising harassment and physical abuse since the start of the war in Ukraine, activists say, as the...

tightening crackdown

Russian Lawmakers Pass Expansion to ‘Gay Propaganda’ Ban

Russian lawmakers passed legislation Thursday imposing steep fines for LGBT “propaganda” among both minors and adults. The new bill bans ...

Anti-Gay Law to Push Russia’s LGBT Community ‘Into the Shadows,’ Activists Warn

Anti-gay legislation under consideration by the Russian parliament could drive the country’s embattled LGBT+ community entirely underground, activists...

A real showstopper

Children's Play Author Claims Run Canceled Over ‘Male Princess’

The director of a children's play has claimed that its run at a Siberian theater was canceled just days after it began due to audience allegations that...

Russia Vows to Defend 'Traditional Values' Against 'Gay Propaganda'

Russia on Wednesday vowed to defend its "traditional" values against threats from the United States and so-called "gay propaganda" in a document signed...

outlawed expression

Russian Lawmakers Vote in Favor of 'LGBT Propaganda' Expansion

Russian lawmakers on Thursday voted unanimously in favor of a bill to forbid the spreading of “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations&rdquo...

Tennis Star Kasatkina Slams Russian Stance to Homosexuality in Coming-Out Video

"Living in peace with yourself is the only thing that matters," world No. 12 Daria Kasatkina said.

tightened restrictions

Russian Lawmakers Eye Expansion of ‘LGBT Propaganda’ Law

“Public approval and recognition of such relationships are dangerous not only for children and young people… but for the whole society.”

Russian Feminist Activist Acquitted of ‘Porn’ Charges

Yulia Tsvetkova, spent several months under house arrest for abstract illustrations of female sexual organs.

Chechnya Imprisons LGBTQI Siblings After Forced Return

Salekh Magamadov and Ismail Isayev say the case against them was fabricated due to their political views, atheism and sexual orientation.

Sims Expansion Featuring Gay Couple to Get Russia Release Following Fan Backlash

The game's developers initially hadn't planned to release the pack in Russia due to its marketing that focuses on a gay couple.

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

A Brotherhood of Bears Flourishes Despite Russia’s Anti-LGBT Agenda

The BEARsBURG society brings together men who reject effeminate stereotypes of queerness for trips to the banya, café meet-ups, walking tours and film...

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