LGBT Rights in Russia

Homosexuality: ⚢
✔ Legal
Gay Marriage: ⚭
✖ Not legal
Censorship: ✖ Fine as punishment
Changing Gender: ✔ Legal, surgery not required
Non-binary gender recognition: Unknown
Discrimination: ✖ No protections
Employment Discrimination: Ambiguous
Housing Discrimination: ✖ No protections
Adoption: ✖ Single only
Military: ✔ Legal
Donating Blood: ✔ Legal
Conversion Therapy: ✖ Not banned
Age of Consent: ✔ Equal

Suggest Public Opinion Data

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)

Question: "On this list are various groups of people. Could you please mention any that you would not like to have as neighbors?"

(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)

Question: "Please tell me for each of the following statements whether you think it can always be justified, never be justified, or something in between."

(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)

Question: "Homosexual couples are as good parents as other couples"

(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)

Question: "Should society accept homosexuality?"

(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)

Question: "Do you strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly oppose allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally?"

(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)

Question: "Please tell me whether the FIRST statement or the SECOND statement is most similar to your point of view–even if it does not precisely match your opinion. 1 Homosexuality should be accepted by society OR 2 Homosexuality should not be accepted by society"

(86%) No

Yes (8%)

"Should society accept homosexuality?" (2013)

Ranked #25 out of 39 regions surveyed. (Source: Pew Research Center, June, 2013)

Question: "Should society accept homosexuality?"

(74%) No

Yes (16%)

Perceived Acceptance of Gay People

Ranked #66 out of 119 regions surveyed. (Source: Gallup, 2013)

Question: "Is the city or area where you live a good place or not a good place for homosexuals?"

(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

Homosexual activity in Russia is legal.

Current status
Since 1993

Legal

Homosexual activity is legal in 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."

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Same-sex marriage in Russia

Same-sex marriage in Russia is not legal.

Current status
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.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Censorship of LGBT Issues in Russia

Censorship of LGBT Issues in Russia is fine as punishment.

Current status
Since Jun 11, 2013

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.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Right to change legal gender in Russia

Right to change legal gender in Russia is legal, surgery not required.

Current status
Since Jan 19, 2018

Legal, surgery not required

Under the 2018 revision by the Ministry of Health, a medical commision can issue a certificate of gender change without the need for surgery or hormone replacement therapy.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Nov 15, 1997–2018

Legal, but requires surgery

Transgender people are able to change their gender on identification documents after being issued a document from a health institution confirming the surgical requirements.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Russia

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Russia is unknown.

Current status

Unknown

LGBT discrimination in Russia

LGBT discrimination in Russia is no protections.

Current status
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.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

LGBT employment discrimination in Russia

LGBT employment discrimination in Russia is ambiguous.

Current status

Ambiguous

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.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

LGBT housing discrimination in Russia

LGBT housing discrimination in Russia is no protections.

Current status
Since Jul 29, 2013

No protections

LGBT people can be fired. As well not legally able to put on pride parades. Also intense violence.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Same-sex adoption in Russia

Same-sex adoption in Russia is single only.

Current status
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

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Serving openly in military in Russia

Serving openly in military in Russia is legal.

Current status
Since Jul 1, 2003

Legal

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.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Blood donations by MSMs in Russia

Blood donations by MSMs in Russia is legal.

Current status
Since Apr 16, 2008

Legal

In 2008, Russia repealed its ban against gay people donating blood. The law was signed in effect on April 16, 2008 by Tatyana Golikova, the minister of Russia's Health and Social Development department.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Sep 14, 2001–Apr 16, 2008

Banned (indefinite deferral)

On September 14, 2001, the Russian Ministry of Health announced that men who have sex with men would be considered part of the "HIV high-risk groups," along with prostitutes and drug addicts.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Conversion therapy in Russia

Conversion therapy in Russia is not banned.

Current status

Not banned

Only in 2 place in Asia where it is criminalized.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Equal age of consent in Russia

Equal age of consent in Russia is equal.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 1997

Equal

The age of consent in Russia is 16 for both same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples.

Details · Accurate? Yes No

Equality Index ?

36 / 100

Legal Rights

55 / 100

Public Opinion

17 / 100

Interest Rank ?

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Discussions

Homosexual Activity & Gay Propaganda Ban in Russia

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Alternative names: Rossija (local name)

LGBT Rights in Russia

Public Opinion

Views on same-sex marriage or other legal recognition

Views on same-sex couples' right to adopt

Acceptance of homosexuals as neighbors

Justifiability of homosexuality

Opinion on same-sex couples as parents

"Should society accept homosexuality?" (2019)

Support for same-sex marriage in Central and Eastern Europe

"Should society accept homosexuality?" (2016, Eastern/Central Europe)

"Should society accept homosexuality?" (2013)

Perceived Acceptance of Gay People

By The Numbers

History

Homosexual activity in Russia

Same-sex marriage in Russia

Censorship of LGBT Issues in Russia

Right to change legal gender in Russia

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Russia

LGBT discrimination in Russia

LGBT employment discrimination in Russia

LGBT housing discrimination in Russia

Same-sex adoption in Russia

Serving openly in military in Russia

Blood donations by MSMs in Russia

Conversion therapy in Russia

Equal age of consent in Russia

Top Contributors

2 Users live in Russia

Russia LGBT Organizations

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