A 40-year-old German teacher has been convicted in Russia for violating the nation’s ban on LGBTQ+ “propaganda.” The teacher invited a 25-year-old man for a private, consensual encounter behind closed doors in his hotel room in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The case reveals how Russia’s recently expanded law is now being employed to punish LGBTQ+ individuals simply for existing.
Details of the Conviction
The teacher, whose identity has not been disclosed, admitted to his “crime” and was fined approximately $1,880. He will be deported back to Germany via Turkey. It remains unclear how Russian legal authorities were made aware of his sexual invitation.
LGBTQ+ Rights Under Fire
This conviction is not an isolated case. In March, a young male bi-national couple, popular TikTok content creators, faced prosecution under the same law. It is unclear whether they were targeted for their online content or for other reasons. The couple has since relocated outside of Russia, leaving their homes, jobs, and possessions. The Russian member of the couple has a court date scheduled in Russia on May 11.
The “Gay Propaganda” Law and Its Expansion
Russian President Vladimir Putin first signed the law banning so-called “gay propaganda” in June 2013, intending to “protect children” from any “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relationships.” The law’s recent expansion now extends the restrictions to Russians of all ages.
International Criticism and US Support
The law has been widely condemned by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and civil rights activists globally. However, anti-LGBTQ+ religious leaders and right-wing political figures in the United States have praised Putin for the law, with some even stating that “most of the people in the United States” would support Russia’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws.
