- Homosexuality
- ⚢Varies by Region
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✖ Not legal
- Censorship
- ✖ Fine as punishment
- Changing Gender
- ✔ Legal, surgery not required
- Non-binary gender recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Employment Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- ✖ Single only
- Military
- ✖ Don't Ask, Don't Tell
- Donating Blood
- ✔ Legal
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
Suggest Public Opinion Data
Until 1993
Until Jul 2, 2013
Public Opinion
Views on same-sex marriage or other legal recognition
Ranked #26 out of 27 regions surveyed. (Source: Ipsos, April–May, 2021)
(52%) Against
Support (29%)
Views on same-sex couples' right to adopt
Ranked #27 out of 27 regions surveyed. (Source: Ipsos, April–May, 2021)
(67%) Disagree
Agree (23%)
Acceptance of homosexuals as neighbors ?
Ranked #59 out of 79 regions surveyed. (Source: World Values Survey, 2017-2020)
(66.1%) Mentioned homosexuals
Did not mention homosexuals (33.9%)
Justifiability of homosexuality ?
Ranked #55 out of 79 regions surveyed. (Source: World Values Survey, 2017-2020)
(71.4%) Not justifiable
Justifiable (8.4%)
Opinion on same-sex couples as parents ?
Ranked #58 out of 74 regions surveyed. (Source: World Values Survey, 2017-2020)
(66.5%) Disagree
Agree (11.3%)
"Should society accept homosexuality?" (2019) ?
Ranked #29 out of 34 regions surveyed. (Source: Pew Research Center, May–October, 2019)
(74%) No
Yes (14%)
Support for same-sex marriage in Central and Eastern Europe ?
Ranked #16 out of 19 regions surveyed. (Source: Pew Research Center, June 2015-July 2016)
(90%) Oppose
Favor (5%)
"Should society accept homosexuality?" (2016, Eastern/Central Europe) ?
Ranked #14 out of 19 regions surveyed. (Source: Pew Research Center, June 2015-July 2016)
(86%) No
Yes (8%)
"Should society accept homosexuality?" (2013) ?
Ranked #25 out of 39 regions surveyed. (Source: Pew Research Center, June, 2013)
(74%) No
Yes (16%)
Perceived Acceptance of Gay People ?
Ranked #66 out of 119 regions surveyed. (Source: Gallup, 2013)
(48%) Not a good place
Good place (12%)
By The Numbers
18%
of Russians believe gays and lesbians should be eliminated from society
(Levada Center, 2020)
80%
of Orthodox Christians support the Church's position on refusing to perform same-sex marriages
13%
oppose
(Pew Research Center, 2017)
51%
of Russians would not want a homosexual neighbor
(Associated Press, 2014)
16%
of Russians believe homosexuals should be isolated from society
5%
believe homosexuals should be physically destroyed
(Levada Center, 2013)
38%
of Russians would not want a homosexual neighbor
(Associated Press, 2012)
History
Homosexual activity in Russia is varies by region.
Current status
Since 1993
Since 1993
Varies by Region
Homosexual activity is legal in most of Russia, however, "anti-gay sentiments remain high."
Though its illegal in Chechnya (punishable by caning on the first two offence and execution on the third offence).
On June 29, 2013, Russia was criticized internationally after a law passed that banned "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations."
Though its illegal in Chechnya (punishable by caning on the first two offence and execution on the third offence).
On June 29, 2013, Russia was criticized internationally after a law passed that banned "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations."
Until 1993
Varies by Region
Although legal in most of Russia, in Chechnya there is a de facto criminalization of homosexuality and attacks against homosexuals are constantly ignored by the police.
Same-sex marriage in Russia is not legal.
Current status
Since Dec 29, 1995
Since Dec 29, 1995
Not legal
The federal laws of Russia do not allow for same sex unions of any kind, and the Russian constitution defines marriage as being between a man and a woman.
Censorship of LGBT Issues in Russia is fine as punishment.
Current status
Since Nov 24, 2022
Since Nov 24, 2022
Fine as punishment
“Russia's parliament approved on Thursday a bill that widens a prohibition of "LGBT propaganda" and restricts the "demonstration" of LGBT behaviour, making any expression of an LGBT lifestyle almost impossible.”
“Under the new law, which still needs the approval of the upper house of parliament and President Vladimir Putin, any action or information that is considered an attempt to promote homosexuality - whether in public, online, or in films, books or advertising - could incur a heavy fine.”
“Under the new law, which still needs the approval of the upper house of parliament and President Vladimir Putin, any action or information that is considered an attempt to promote homosexuality - whether in public, online, or in films, books or advertising - could incur a heavy fine.”
Fine as punishment
In 2013, Russia introduced a law known as "for the Purpose of Protecting Children from Information Advocating for a Denial of Traditional Family Values" (known worldwide as the "gay propaganda law") which prohibits the promotion of homosexual topics. According to the Russian government, this law is aimed to "protect" children from being exposed to homosexuality, since it goes against "traditional family values." Foreigners who break this law can be arrested and detained for up to 15 days (or fined up to 5,000 rubles) and then deported.
Right to change legal gender in Russia is legal, surgery not required.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Russia is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
There's no third gender recognition.
LGBT discrimination in Russia is no protections.
Current status
Since Jul 29, 2013
Since Jul 29, 2013
No protections
Signed into law by President Vladimir Putin, the law on “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations among minors” criminalizes public expression of support for nontraditional relationships.
LGBT employment discrimination in Russia is no protections.
Current status
No protections
Article 3 of the Labour Code prohibits employment discrimination but does not explicitly mention sexual
orientation or gender identity. Several prominent people including a TV news anchor have been fired for coming out, although some people have successfully challenged discriminatory dismissal.
orientation or gender identity. Several prominent people including a TV news anchor have been fired for coming out, although some people have successfully challenged discriminatory dismissal.
LGBT housing discrimination in Russia is no protections.
Current status
Since Jul 29, 2013
Since Jul 29, 2013
No protections
LGBT people can be fired. As well not legally able to put on pride parades. Also intense violence.
Same-sex adoption in Russia is single only.
Current status
Since Dec 29, 1995
Since Dec 29, 1995
Single only
Adoption is being regulated by the Civil Procedure Code of Russia (Chapter 29); Family Code of Russia (Chapter 19); Federal Law On Acts of Civil Status (Chapter V). None of these documents contain any direct restriction or ban for homosexual people to ado
Until Jul 2, 2013
Illegal
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law on Wednesday banning the adoption of children by same-sex couples, as part of an increasingly conservative agenda the Kremlin is pursuing since his return to power.
Serving openly in military in Russia is don't ask, don't tell.
Current status
Since Jul 1, 2003
Since Jul 1, 2003
Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Major-General of Medical Service Valery Kulikov stated that "the new statute about military and medical expertise from July 1, 2003 does not forbid people of non-standard sexual orientation from serving in the military." Also, in February of 2010, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin stated in an interview that gays are not banned from serving in the Russian armed forces.
Blood donations by MSMs in Russia is legal.
Current status
Since Apr 16, 2008
Since Apr 16, 2008
Conversion therapy in Russia is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Not condemned. As well their is still the attitude that homosexuality is a disease.
Equal age of consent in Russia is equal.
Current status
Since Jan 1, 1997
Since Jan 1, 1997
Equal
The age of consent in Russia is 16 for both same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples.
LGBT Rights by administrative region
View the LGBT laws in each individual administrative region of Russia.
- Amurskaya oblast'
- Arkhangel'skaya oblast'
- Astrakhanskaya oblast'
- Belgorodskaya oblast'
- Bryanskaya oblast'
- Chelyabinskaya oblast'
- Irkutskaya oblast'
- Ivanovskaya oblast'
- Kaliningradskaya oblast'
- Kaluzhskaya oblast'
- Kemerovskaya oblast'
- Kirovskaya oblast'
- Kostromskaya oblast'
- Kurganskaya oblast'
- Kurskaya oblast'
- Leningradskaya oblast'
- Lipetskaya oblast'
- Magadanskaya oblast'
- Moskovskaya oblast'
- Murmanskaya oblast'
- Nizhegorodskaya oblast'
- Novgorodskaya oblast'
- Novosibirskaya oblast'
- Omskaya oblast'
- Orenburgskaya oblast'
- Orlovskaya oblast'
- Penzenskaya oblast'
- Pskovskaya oblast'
- Rostovskaya oblast'
- Ryazanskaya oblast'
- Sakhalinskaya oblast'
- Samarskaya oblast'
- Saratovskaya oblast'
- Smolenskaya oblast'
- Sverdlovskaya oblast'
- Tambovskaya oblast'
- Tomskaya oblast'
- Tul'skaya oblast'
- Tverskaya oblast'
- Tyumenskaya oblast'
- Ul'yanovskaya oblast'
- Vladimirskaya oblast'
- Volgogradskaya oblast'
- Vologodskaya oblast'
- Voronezhskaya oblast'
- Yaroslavskaya oblast'
- Adygeya, Respublika (republic)
- Altay, Respublika (republic)
- Bashkortostan, Respublika (republic)
- Buryatiya, Respublika (republic)
- Chechenskaya Respublika (republic)
- Chuvashskaya Respublika (republic)
- Dagestan, Respublika (republic)
- Ingushskaya Respublika (republic)
- Kabardino-Balkarskaya Respublika (republic)
- Kalmykiya, Respublika (republic)
- Karachayevo-Cherkesskaya Respublika (republic)
- Kareliya, Respublika (republic)
- Khakasiya, Respublika (republic)
- Komi, Respublika (republic)
- Mariy El, Respublika (republic)
- Mordoviya, Respublika (republic)
- Sakha, Respublika (republic)
- Severnaya Osetiya, Respublika (republic)
- Tatarstan, Respublika (republic)
- Tyva, Respublika (republic)
- Udmurtskaya Respublika (republic)
- Altayskiy kray (administrative territory)
- Kamchatskaya oblast' (administrative territory)
- Khabarovskiy kray (administrative territory)
- Krasnodarskiy kray (administrative territory)
- Krasnoyarskiy kray (administrative territory)
- Perm (administrative territory)
- Primorskiy kray (administrative territory)
- Stavropol'skiy kray (administrative territory)
- Zabajkal'skij kraj (administrative territory)
- Moskva (autonomous city)
- Sankt-Peterburg (autonomous city)
- Komi-Permyak ()
- Yevreyskaya avtonomnaya oblast' (autonomous region)
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Common queries:
- Is it illegal to be gay in Russia?
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Alternative names: Rossija (local name)
