U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a public appeal to Russia’s lawmakers, urging them to withdraw a proposed measure that would expand restrictions on information about LGBTQI+ issues. He communicated his stance via his official social media account, urging a retreat from the draft to uphold universal human rights and the dignity of all people. In his message, Blinken emphasized that the proposed expansion would threaten freedom of expression and further constrain the rights of LGBTQI+ communities within Russia.
On 23 November, the State Duma advanced a second reading of a draft law framed as defending traditional values. The bill targets media content, online platforms, literature, and cinema that it deems to promote or normalize behaviors it characterizes as deviant, including what it calls pedophilia and transgenderism. The text of the bill explains that its intent is to establish a mechanism to shield society from what it describes as propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations and to protect children from what it views as harmful information.
Advocates for civil liberties warn that the measure would curtail a broad spectrum of expression and limit access to information. Critics argue that the law could be used to suppress discussions about sexuality and gender diversity, impeding researchers, educators, journalists, and activists who work with LGBTQI+ communities. In response, officials in the United States have highlighted the importance of protecting human rights and ensuring that laws related to information and media do not discriminate against individuals based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Observers note that the outcome of the debate in the Russian parliament could have implications for media freedom, cultural policy, and international norms on human rights. Analysts suggest that the bill’s passage or rejection will reflect broader tensions between Russia’s domestic policy agenda and global expectations regarding freedom of expression. The international community continues to monitor the situation, ready to respond to developments that affect the rights and safety of LGBTQI+ people in Russia and beyond. [attribution: official statements and subsequent reporting]