In a move that further exacerbates concerns over human rights and the curtailment of non-traditional lifestyles, the Russian Health Ministry has issued an order to staff clinics with sexologists. The mandate, which will take effect on July 1, aims to help patients “overcome” homosexuality and various sexual “mental disorders.” This decision comes as part of an ongoing crackdown on LGBT rights, which Russian President Vladimir Putin has characterized as a safeguard against perceived moral degradation in Western societies.
The health ministry order, signed by President Putin, states that sexologists will offer assistance to individuals seeking to recover from frigidity, impotence, or other deviations in sexual behavior such as fetishism, masochism, and sadism. Furthermore, the specialists will address “non-standard preferences” including autoeroticism, homosexuality, and even bestiality. It is crucial to note that the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders in 1990, a step Russia followed in 1999.
However, recent legislative actions have revealed a regressive approach toward LGBT rights in Russia. In December, Putin signed a law expanding restrictions on the promotion of what the government terms “LGBT propaganda,” effectively criminalizing any public expression of the behavior or lifestyle of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, or transgender people. This legislation has been utilized to impede gay pride marches and detain activists advocating for LGBT rights.
Just this week, a regional court fined the director of the LGBT support group Vykhod (“Coming Out”) for not identifying the group as a “foreign agent” in a social media post, as required under the new law. In another instance, an online cinema service faced a substantial fine for failing to provide warnings about LGBT content in films it aired. Moreover, the State Duma, Russia’s lower house of parliament, recently endorsed initial support for a bill that would prohibit gender reassignment surgery.
In addition to targeting LGBT individuals, the health ministry’s new order also includes provisions for medical staff to assist married couples in achieving “sexual harmony” and offering advice to parents regarding sex education for their children. These measures have raised significant concerns among human rights advocates, who argue that they further marginalize and stigmatize LGBT individuals and perpetuate a hostile environment for the community.
As Russia continues to implement these controversial measures, the rights and well-being of LGBT individuals remain under threat. The international community closely watches the situation, advocating for the protection of human rights and the recognition of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities in societies worldwide.