more than 60% of respondents support the restriction of the rights of LGBT communities

The attitude of Russians towards the LGBT community has become more negative – this is evidenced by the results of the Russian Field survey. The need to restrict the rights of homosexuals was stated by 62% of respondents, while restrictions on the rights of transgender people are supported by 55%. Two years ago, only 42% of Russians were categorically against the idea of ​​equality of homosexual and heterosexual people, and in 2013 there were only 19% of such people. Human rights activists are sure that this is the influence of the law banning the so-called “LGBT propaganda”, which was adopted ten years ago and significantly tightened in 2022. Vitaly Milonov, a well-known fighter against the LGBT community, believes that Russia is “the last beacon of bright light in the gloomy rainbow sea of ​​sin.”

In August 2023, the Russian Field research team surveyed Russians about what Russians consider traditional values, what associations they have with the phrase “European values”, and how they feel about members of the LGBT community. “The sample size is 1,600 respondents, it is representative of gender, age within the Russian Federation and federal districts in particular,” the researchers said.

When asked about “traditional values”, respondents most often mentioned patriotism, family, respect for elders, love for the motherland, as well as faith, Orthodoxy, freedom and justice (Russian Field did not indicate how many percent chose such options). Respondents associated “European values” with freedom, democracy and tolerance, as well as LGBT, “homosexuality” and same-sex marriage. “Respondents also often stated that the phrase “European values” disgusts them,” the study says. At the same time, a quarter of respondents are sure that in Russia there are no legal restrictions for representatives of the LGBT community. Nevertheless, 44% mentioned the impossibility of entering into a same-sex marriage in Russia. They also know about the ban on “LGBT propaganda” and information on the topic of homosexuality.

22% of respondents answered negatively to the question of whether there should be legal restrictions for homosexual and transgender people; 16% found it difficult to answer, and 3% refused to speak on this topic. But 62% consider such restrictions necessary. “A quarter of the respondents are in favor of restrictions on propaganda or information about non-traditional relationships, 13% – on public displays of feelings; 11% declared a complete rejection of people with a non-traditional orientation and are in favor of restrictions on their residence in the country, ”the study says.

Significantly more often than others, Russians over 45 and with an income of up to 40,000 rubles were in favor of restrictions.

In 2021, a similar survey was conducted by the Levada Center (included by the Ministry of Justice in the register of foreign agents) and received comparable results. At that time, 14% of respondents were in favor of equal rights for homosexual and heterosexual Russians, another 19% were “rather agree” with this position (a total of 33% against 22% for Russian Field). 42% of respondents strongly disagree with this approach, 17% “rather disagree” (a total of 52% against 62% in the latest survey). But in 2013, the Levada Center received completely different data. Ten years ago, 7% fully supported equal rights for LGBT Russians, 32% “rather supported” (39% in total). 19% of the respondents were categorically against, 28% were “rather against” (47% in total).

Human rights defenders are not surprised by this trend. “Since 2013, a law has been in force at the federal level on the ‘ban on LGBT propaganda’, which in practice has changed society’s attitude towards LGBT people from neutral to partially negative,” says LGBT rights lawyer Maxim Olenichev (included by the Ministry of Justice in the register of foreign agents ).— In 2022, this law was expanded. Thus, using the example of state anti-LGBT propaganda in Russia, we see that over the past 10 years, stereotypes and prejudices against LGBT people have increased in Russian society. In practice, this inevitably entails the violation of their rights and legitimizes violence against them.” Mr. Olenichev insists on the discriminatory nature of the law banning “LGBT propaganda”, as it follows from it that homosexual and heterosexual people are “not socially equal”.

The researchers also found out the attitude of respondents towards transgender people. 89% of respondents heard about their existence. At the same time, 40% found it difficult to answer the question whether there are restrictions for transgender citizens in Russia. The recent ban on “medical sex change” (adopted by the State Duma in July) was mentioned by only 12% of respondents. “It is interesting that Russians are less likely to support bans on trans people — 55% support them, 24% are against. But there are more who found it difficult to answer. In both cases, the respondents most often support restrictions on propaganda or information, – Russian Field sociologist Ilya Dorkhanov noted in a conversation with Kommersant. – At the same time, in the case of homo- and bisexuals, the second most popular restriction desired by respondents is a ban on public manifestations of feelings: hugs, kisses. And in the case of trans people, in second place are restrictions on their residence in Russia – such is their harsh rejection.

Sociologists believe that the results of the survey indicate a split in Russian society – but not on the question of whether there should be restrictions for members of the LGBT community, but on whether there are any now.

“It can be assumed that this is due both to the sensitivity of the topic and the fact that many respondents are not sure whether the current Russian laws can be considered restrictions, or whether these are “not restrictions yet”, but something else. Someone, perhaps, just in case, tries not to evaluate the legislation in any way in a conversation with strangers. But it is worth noting that there were much fewer failures than we expected,” Mr. Dorkhanov emphasized.

The researchers also noted an “age split” – among young people, only about a third support restrictions for LGBT people: “In older groups, this proportion is much higher, 60-70%.”

Mr. Olenichev also points to a serious gap in the answers of different age groups: “Almost two-thirds of young people aged 18 to 27 admit that there are such restrictions. At the same time, almost 43% of people who gave such an answer do not consider such restrictions necessary. This indicates a greater sensitivity of young people to issues of equality and the prohibition of discrimination.”

“Homosexuality has become more of a political phenomenon than something related to private life. Therefore, this is the attitude of people in our country: it is obvious that the LGBT is a kind of organizational weapon used by the West against the passionate core of cultures and traditions of different countries. One of the varieties of disgusting neo-Marxism, – said Vitaly Milonov, a State Duma deputy, a well-known opponent of the LGBT community, to Kommersant. – Fortunately, our country is truly democratic and free: all people have the right to their privacy. But I am glad that the state clearly demonstrates its attitude towards such things – Russia stands on healthy values, and this is the key to our happy future. We are the last beacon of bright light in the dark rainbow sea of ​​sin.”

Emilia Gabdullina