Belarus passes bill to crack down on LGBTQ+ rights echoing similar law in Russia
Belarus Passes Bill to Crack Down on LGBTQ+ Rights, Echoing Russia’s Model
On Thursday, Belarus’s parliament approved a new law aimed at penalizing individuals who advocate for LGBTQ+ causes, mirroring restrictive measures seen in Russia. The upper chamber finalized the legislation after it had already been passed by the lower house last month, and President Aliaksandr Lukashenka is anticipated to sign it into law shortly. The proposed law targets “homosexual propaganda, gender identity challenges, childlessness, and paedophilia” with potential penalties including fines, community service, and a 15-day detention.
Despite decriminalizing homosexuality in 1994 following the Soviet Union’s collapse, Belarus still does not acknowledge same-sex marriages or provide legal safeguards for LGBTQ+ rights. Lukashenka, who has governed the nation of 9.5 million for over three decades with authoritarian control, has openly ridiculed homosexuality. The country has faced repeated sanctions from Western nations, not only for its human rights record but also for enabling Moscow’s use of its territory during the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Targeting LGBTQ+ Communities
LGBTQ+ organizations in Belarus have been disbanded, while security forces frequently raid venues to disrupt private gay gatherings. The KGB, retaining its Soviet-era name, has reportedly used tactics like blackmail to compel members of the LGBTQ+ community to collaborate. Alisa Sarmant, head of TG House—a Belarusian group focused on transgender rights—highlighted the law’s impact: “Even before this legislation, LGBTQ+ individuals faced beatings, arrests, and mockery. Now, law enforcement has a legal basis to intensify repression.”
“LGBTQ+ people had faced beatings, arrests, persecution and mockery even before the bill’s approval, but now law enforcement agencies have received legal grounds for repressions,” said Alisa Sarmant, leader of TG House.
According to TG House, at least 12 instances of persecution have been recorded in the past three months, including a recent police operation in Minsk targeting a private gay event. The group noted that transgender individuals now fear being denied access to essential medicines, prompting hundreds of requests for psychological support and assistance in relocating abroad. Sarmant criticized the law for conflating diverse groups: “Belarus is replicating Russia’s harsh approach, making life unbearable for LGBTQ+ people.”
Russia’s Repressive Framework
Russia has implemented similarly strict laws to suppress LGBTQ+ rights, prohibiting gender changes on official documents, gender-affirming care, and public displays of gay or transgender identities. The movement has been labeled as extremist, with members facing up to six years in prison. Belarus’s new bill is seen as extending this framework, further entrenching social stigma and discrimination within the country.
