158 Global News Post 3

Megarry, D., Megarry, D., Robledo, J., & Robledo, J. (2019, February 20). Anti-LGBTQ emoji causes outrage on social media. GAY TIMES. Retrieved March 26, 2023, from https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/life/anti-lgbtq-emoji-causes-outrage-on-twitter/

In late November of 2022, parliament in Russia passed a law “against LGBTQ+ propaganda” and it was signed by Putin in December of the same year. The new law established administrative fines up to $5500 per individual for LGBTQ+ propaganda and up to $2500 for “encouraging” gender change. This new law poses a threat to publishers and online and offline cinemas, with one of the first victims being the publishing house Popcorn Books. Publishers have had to withdraw numerous books from sale due to LGBTQ+ themes. At the same time, over 300 websites have been blocked and TV series with LGBTQ+ scenes have been taken off of Russian streaming platforms. The Russian government also took action against two Russian bloggers, Hilmi Forks and Dasha Koreyka, who were popular on TikTok and Twitch. Kareyka documented her experience with gender transition through these platforms. Both Kareyka and Forks’ accounts have been blocked for “spreading LGBTQ+ propaganda, transgenderism, broadcasting immoral behavior and insulting the feelings of believers.”

This article was written by Daria Dergacheva, a postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Media and Communication Research at the University of Bremen, Germany. She has experience with Russian state narratives and worked in Russian-based international organizations and NGOs. Daria provides an outside perspective on the situation and uses direct quotes and personal stories of real people in Russia to support her article.

First victims of anti-LGBTQ+ law in Russia are trans persons and books