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08.03.2023

Fear, flight and self-censorship: Russia’s latest “gay propaganda law” has a serious impact on the LGBTQI+ community

Demonstration against St. Petersburg´s "homopropaganda" law 2012 in front of Finlandia House, diring the visit of mayor Poltavchenko.
Demonstration against St. Petersburg´s “homopropaganda” law 2012 in front of Finlandia House, during the visit of mayor Poltavchenko.

Text: Pauliina Lukinmaa, John Kaye
Article in Finnish here

Russia’s expanded ‘propaganda law’ is challenging the LGBTQI+ community and erasing already marginalized sexual and gender identities from the public sphere. Ten years after the country accepted its first propaganda law, LGBTQI+ activism in Russia is effectively being banned outright.

For Russia, the period from the 2000s onward has seen the role of the state and its overseeing eye increase significantly in importance. Russia’s first propaganda law (article 6.21.), accepted in 2013, cemented ‘gay propaganda’ as part of the Russian political lexicon and garnered global attention upon its entry into force. The law saw the Russian state define homosexuality as non-traditional sexual relations, further stigmatizing gender and sexual minorities in the country.

According to authorities, the law is intended to protect minors from influences deemed harmful, including marginalized ‘non-traditional’ sexualities and gender identities. The law is part of Russia’s neoconservative family and sexuality policy, in which the family unit is made up of a mother, a father, who is also a ‘defender of the nation’, and children. The Russian state encourages families to have more than two children, both in rhetoric and using financial incentives.

The so-called ‘gay propaganda law’ touches on more than marginalized sexualities and gender identities. It also equates LGBTQI+ minorities with paedophilia. The law bans the discussion of LGBTQI+-related themes everywhere – not just in the public sphere – with the looming threat of considerable fines. The law categorizes ‘propaganda’ of non-traditional relations as an administrative offense, meaning convictions on the basis of this law alone are punishable by fines and not prison time, for now.

Research has shown that in the period following the passage of the 2013 law, instances of homo- and transphobic violent crime in Russia rose significantly. The new legislation introducing an outright ban on discussion and portrayal of LGBTQI+ identities entered into force in November, 2022. In practice, these changes are set to do away with LGBTQI+ content across all sectors of society.

The reformed law also includes a new addition – the concept of ‘encouraging one to change one’s gender’ as a punishable form of so-called ‘propaganda’. Trans identities in Russia have come more visibly to the fore in public discourse in recent years, from Putin’s offensive references to trans people to the discussion of the 2014 traffic safety law reform that threatened to take away the right of trans individuals to operate vehicles, citing trans identities as an illness.

This proposal was ultimately dropped from the reform project, but the case was a clear indication of the Russian state’s increasing hostility toward the trans community. This a significant change, as trans issues have until recently been discussed in a manner that, while pathologizing trans identities, was separate from the public discussion of ‘propaganda’. There has been a clear amplification of conservative narratives elsewhere, too – including in Finland – notably claims that children and youth are being “conditioned to gender dysphoria” in schools.

From an atmosphere of fear to self-censorship

In Russia, the word ‘propaganda’ can be used to refer to nearly any information about sexual and gender minorities that can be understood to normalize or otherwise provide positive portrayals of the LGBTQI+ community. Going forward, Russia’s federal agency responsible for the monitoring of mass media, Roskomnadzor, will hold the pen on the definition of ‘propaganda’. The agency produced a list of criteria to this end in January, 2023.

The instructions leave something to be desired; in their current form, they fail to provide exceptions for doctors, psychiatrists and psychologists to deal with LGBTQI+ themes with patients in their clinical work. According to Coming Out, some psychologists have already begun actively excluding LGBTQI+ themes in their own practice. In addition, the criteria do not account for freedom of academic expression.

The law’s ambiguities are typical of Russia’s authoritarian state leadership. The legal text leaves considerable room for arbitrary interpretation on the part of the authorities – a phenomenon that has proven an effective tool in regulating citizens’ behaviour.

Publishing house Popcorn Books, known for its LGBTQI+ collections, was the first company to be charged with spreading ‘propaganda’ under the new law. The case has served as a frightening reminder of what is possible. Insecurities around what is illegal and how actively adherence to the law would be monitored have created a situation in which companies, NGOs and individual citizens have come to rely on self-censorship to avoid prosecution and devastating fines. For example, numerous large bookstore chains and streaming services have deleted LGBTQI+ content from their libraries as a precautionary measure – even deleting individual scenes from well-known series.

Roskomnadzor has taken to investigating LGBTQI+ bloggers and, since the start of the war, intensified social media monitoring, including using artificial intelligence tools. For example, transgender sex workers using social media platforms online to advertise their services have been traced and subsequently charged.

According to LGBT movement “Coming Out”, the law has brought about serious consequences for especially vulnerable sexual and gender minorities. For example, transgender sex workers of Central Asian origin have been deported from Russia to countries where homosexuality is illegal.

Activists at risk in Russia

Russia’s political atmosphere has become increasingly severe over the course of 2010s. Just before the launch of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia increased new restrictions on the right to congregate and freedom of expression. At the same time, the state increased its military readiness. The ongoing war has seen public neoconservative rhetoric in Russia taken to the extreme, including increasingly patriarchal public discourse, censorship and police surveillance. Already vulnerable minorities and civil society actors have found themselves in an even more precarious position.

Many activists with networks abroad and other necessary resources have managed to move away from Russia. In spring 2022, two established LGBTQI+ organizations in Saint Petersburg officially moved their documentation, offices and staff to Estonia and Lithuania, all the while maintaining their activities in Russia, at least in part.

Today, activists in Saint Petersburg are attempting to enact change in their society through work underground, with meagre funding and resources. Currently there is one LGBTQI+ community centre operating in the city, Deistvija (eng. Action), relying on the work of local volunteers. In challenging conditions, the centre aims to offer accessible services, peer support and a safer space for local LGBTQI+ individuals and groups in its office. For their own safety, they are only able to share the address with trusted contacts.

In 2022, they offered their space to groups and organized hundreds of events that were, according to a volunteer representative, attended by over 3,000 community members. Organizations that have moved out of Russia have tried to remain in contact with their LGBTQI+ activists through online events, including workshops, film screenings and peer support groups.

Since the launch of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Russian state has set about more actively restricting freedom of expression and the work of civil society organizations and activists. In the words of a Deistvija volunteer – in difficult times, we rely on the support of our own community.

07.11.2022

Seta grants Apple of Good Information to Academic Engineers and Architects in Finland TEK

Seta – LGBT Rights in Finland has granted the Apple of Good Information 2022 to the Academic Engineers and Architects in Finland TEK. The recognition was received last week by Work Life Specialist Sirkku Pohja. It was presented by Secretary General of Seta Kerttu Tarjamo at TEK’s office in Pasila.

Seta grants the Apple of Good Information annually to an individual or community that has advanced the position of sexual or gender minorities or spread good, factual information about the diversity of sexual orientation and gender. TEK is the first trade union to receive the recognition.

LGBTQI+ people are invisible in many workplaces and particularly in male-dominated fields of technology, in which the Academic Engineers and Architects in Finland TEK also operates. Seta finds it highly commendable that the organization has set out to systematically raise the visibility of LGBTQI+ people and promote equality.

“Among other things, TEK has published tips on how to be an LGBTQI+ ally and how to be inclusive of LGBTQI+ employees. TEK has also trained shop stewards and given LGBTQI+ people more visibility and space. In 2021, the organization’s Student Survey examined the discrimination of LGBTQI+ people as well,” says Secretary General of Seta Kerttu Tarjamo, giving reasons for the choice.

Having worked with equality and equity issues for two decades, Sirkku Pohja notes that equality is progressing, but progress is incredibly slow. Many workplaces are under the impression that equality and equity have already been achieved or that there is no need to revise the Equality Plan once it has been approved.

“Equality talk and actions are today’s hot topics and tomorrow’s work life skills. We just hired a project worker at TEK to work on an equality guide for student organizations. In early autumn, we set up an online equality training package for our employees to complete independently. Next year, we will be conducting an equality and equity training course for employee representatives who are TEK members,” she says.

TEK’s CEO Jari Jokinen says that the TEK community greatly appreciates the honour. Promoting equality requires constant efforts.

“We have worked systematically on behalf of equality and equity, but this is just the beginning of the journey. It is important for us to see everyone included in the workplace as equal members of the community. We want to continue pursuing this goal in the future, both in our members’ professional communities and among everyone studying or working in the field of technology.”

According to a study on work life, young people are open about their identity during studies, but end up going back in the closet when they start their first job. According to TEK’s own survey, 24% of LGBTQI+ men and 51% of LGBTQI+ women fear they will face discrimination in their career; this figure was up to 66% among non-binary respondents.

“The notion of who is suitable to work in the field and whose abilities are credible is often narrow in the technology industry. Not fitting in the mould can cause stress. It takes energy to have to think about where and when it is safe to be open about your minority status. If you can be yourself in your professional community without fear of discrimination, you can focus this energy on the work itself,” says TEK’s Research Manager Susanna Bairoh.

“Young people are much bolder and more open. They will not enjoy working in their job if things do not change. The prevailing attitudes in workplaces need a good airing. Shop stewards are the key to this process as their role allows them to address issues and promote equality in practice. We, the trade unions, are there to support the shop stewards, we provide training and advice. Together, we will create a better work life for everyone, and always side with the weaker,” says Pohja.

More information:

TEK Student Survey https://www.tek.fi/en/news-blogs/nearly-half-of-lgbtqi-students-fear-discrimination-in-their-career

30.03.2022

Effective measures are needed to tackle hate speech against LGBTIQA+ people

 

Secretary General Kerttu Tarjamo.

The charges were brought against Päivi Räsänen’s publications and public statements, which, according to the prosecutor, degrade and discriminate against gays. The prosecutor considered that Räsänen’s opinions violate equality and dignity of gays, and thus limits of freedom of speech and belief.

— It is important that hate speech directed at LGBTIQA+ people is dealt in the courts even when it is displayed in a religious context or is motivated by religion, says Kerttu Tarjamo, Secretary General of the human rights organisation Seta.

The District Court has judged that Päivi Räsänen’s public opinions do not amount to incitement to hatred as defined in the Penal code.

— It is obvious that Räsänen’s public opinions regarding gay people are deeply offensive to many persons belonging to sexual minorities. We hope that the matter will still be dealt with by the highest courts.

Tarjamo points out that the district court’s decision does not mean that freedom of expression or freedom of religion can be freely used to justify discrimination or hate speech. Not all hate speech is punishable under the Penal Code, it can also be harassment within the meaning of the Non-Discrimination Act.

Seta considers it important that the Non-Discrimination Act be reformed, for example, so that harassment can be considered to target not only an individual but also a group of people, and that a harassment case can be referred to the Non-Discrimination and Equality Board without the need to name a victim.

According to Seta, the court proceedings indicate that hate speech against minorities is taken more seriously in Finland than before and that the understanding about the harmfulness of hate speech is progressing. LGBTIQA+ people are one of the groups that face a lot of hate speech in Finland, already in school environments. Yet most of it remains hidden.

According to the European Agency for Fundamental Rights, nine out of ten people do not report harassment of sexual orientation or gender. Underreporting of both discrimination and hate crimes is common and the reasons are, among other things, that reporting is not believed to lead to anything.

Seta emphasises that leading politicians and parties also have a special responsibility for tackling hate speech – the minimum requirement would be to at least refrain from making hateful and degrading comments in public. Räsänen’s opinions are likely to reinforce prejudice against LGBTIQA+ people and legitimise discrimination against them.

— It is a high time that a generation of LGBTIQA+ kids could grow up in Finland without being exposed to the hurtful opinions about LGBTIQA+ people made by leading politicians.

More Information:

Kerttu Tarjamo
p. +358 50 309 8108
kerttu.tarjamo@seta.fi

Kerttu Tarjamo press picture

21.01.2022

Answer our survey about barriers for gender affirming care

Have you wished for or received gender-affirming care during 2003-2022 in Finland? Trans rights organisations are looking into barriers and delays for gender affirming care. Answer our survey!

The survey is carried out by Samuel Salovaara, Master of Social Sciences, on behalf of LGBTI Rights in Finland Seta. This survey is conducted in collaboration with Gender Diversity & Intersex Centre of Expertise, trans rights assosiations Trasek ja Trans, assosiation of families with trans kids and youth (Translasten ja -nuorten perheet ry) and assosiation of transfeminines (Transfemininiinit ry).

According to trans people there has been changes in availability of gender affirming care. With this survey we aim to gather information about the situations where barriers and delays are experienced. The time frame is from 2003 to 2022.

Everyone who has ever wished for or received gender-affirming care can take part to this survey. Anyone interested will be offered the opportunity to respond to the survey, but if you are under the age of 15, we recommend that you discuss the matter with your guardian, parent, or other trusted adult before answering the survey.

By agreeing to respond to the questionnaire, you consent to the use of your responses for the writing of a survey report and possibly to subsequent scientific studies as described above. Please read the consent form carefully.

All information gathered by the survey is treated confidentially and is reported on in a way that prevents identification of any individual. Every answer is important and valuable! Answering the survey will not be of immediate benefit to you or others, but it can help in advocacy work to remove barriers to accessing gender affirming care.

Seta and the other organisations utilise the report and the results of the survey in their advocacy work. The results of the survey can also be used for scientific research carried out in cooperation with Seta ry in the future.

Survey is open until 10th of February.

If answering the survey raises awareness of the difficulty of your own situation, difficult feelings or otherwise raises issues and you feel the need for conversational support or service guidance, you can book a confidential appointment (also remote appointments) at the Gender Diversity & Intersex Centre of Expertise. More information here.

For more information on the survey, please contact: Kerttu Tarjamo, kerttu.tarjamo@seta.fi.

23.11.2021

Seta’s general assembly: trans people’s rights must not be trampled in the name of feminism  

Statement 14th of November

LGBTI people’s rights are facing significant opposition, which in Europe shows particularly as opposition to trans and non-binary people’s rights. A wide range of actors oppose LGBTI people’s rights with a view to defend “traditional family values” and gender roles and to undermine women’s, LGBTI people’s and other groups’ right to their body. The intention is to deny trans and non-binary people’s control over their own gender and body.

Trans people’s rights are also being opposed in the name of feminism This implies a narrow definition of womanhood, and the intention is to exclude trans and non-binary persons from the definition. It is alleged that trans women pose a threat to the equality or even safety of cis women. These claims define womanhood narrowly, relying on old concepts of gender. Research has shown, however, that these security threats are completely unjustified, and the feelings of insecurity are due to active scaremongering. False fears can be alleviated by increasing awareness of gender diversity.

Categorising women into “real” and “other” kinds of women does nothing to promote women’s rights. On the contrary, it will empower those who aim to restrict women’s rights.

Seta’s general assembly concludes that women’s rights can be promoted only by taking the diversity of women into account. For example, violence against women is an experience shared by both cis and trans women as well as many non-binary persons. Women’s experiences differ because of factors such as ethnic background, skin colour and ability to function. Promoting issues specific to cis women does not necessitate the discrimination of trans people. Therefore, feminism needs to take the diversity of women and various experiences into account.

Seta’s general assembly appeals to feminist organisations to clearly denounce feminism that opposes the rights of trans women and non-binary persons. We encourage feminist organisations to invite trans and non-binary persons to engage in equality debate and consider together how to promote women’s rights without discrimination.

 

General assembly was held 2021 as an online meeting on 13th and 14th of November. 

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