In Russia, a young man has been sentenced for distributing alleged “LGBT propaganda” on social networks. As the online outlet Verstka reported, a court fined 22-year-old Moscow resident David Gewondjan after he posted several images on the VK platform.
The case’s trigger included, among other things, a photo of the British rock band Queen, showing members of the group in women’s clothing — a scene from the music video for “I Want to Break Free.” Gewondjan appealed a criminal order, arguing that he had violated no law; the musicians’ cross-dressing did not constitute “LGBT propaganda.”
Court: Image is “a danger to demographic development”
The court rejected the appeal. In its justification, it stated that Gewondjan’s profile also featured additional images, including men kissing and men in miniskirts. The penalty was imposed due to the overall content that had been published. The exact amount of the fine was not disclosed.
Direct link | Official music video for Queen’s song “I Want To Break Free”
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In its reasoning, the court explained that the posting of the Queen photo had “no musical relevance” when taking into account the broader context of the information being circulated. It further stated that public endorsement and promotion of non-traditional sexual relationships is not only problematic for children and teenagers but also poses a danger to the country’s demographic development and its economic future.
The public visibility of queer people is prohibited
Russia adopted in 2013 the “Law on the Propaganda of Non-Traditional Sexual Relationships Among Minors,” which is also known as the “Homo-propaganda” or “LGBT-propaganda” law. This effectively makes the public visibility of queer people nearly impossible.
With the war of aggression against Ukraine, Russia has intensified its crackdown on sexual and gender minorities. For instance, the “international LGBT movement” was banned in 2023 as an “extremist organization” (TheColu.mn reported). The crusade has produced some absurd consequences: Moscow police once dissolved a “My Little Pony” convention over alleged “Homo-propaganda” claims (TheColu.mn reported).
