Russia LGBT Condemnation Motion

This House Recognises:

1. The historic suffering of the LGBT community, including the Trans and Genderqueer community, within the Russian Federation.

2. The decision of the Russian Supreme Court to criminalise the “International LGBTQ Movement” as an extremist group.

3. The fact that such a group as mentioned does not exist.

4. The danger such a decision puts LGBT Russians in.

This House Therefore Urges That:

1. Look into ways to increase protections for LGBT and genderqueer people in the United Kingdom, including feeling safe from harassment in the streets.

2. Condemn the decision of the Russian Supreme Court and the historic injustices against the LGBT Community in the country.

This Motion was written by The Rt Hon u/realbassist PC on behalf of the Green Party.

Opening speech:

Speaker,

As a member of the LGBT community, then come January I will legally be an extremist in Russia, as the Prime Minister themself will be. A criminal whose ideology is dangerous, and whose beliefs and possible actions threaten the safety of the Russian people and their values. Apparently, there is a danger in love, and so it has to be limited, or even covertly banned.

The Russian Supreme Court’s ruling against the LGBT community in Russia is deeply distressing to me, and to all who have a respect and commitment to human rights and decency. This is a terrifying time for the LGBT population in Russia, who have been under constant attack from Putin’s state for many years now. I admit, I could not find statistics on how many people in the country identified as LGBT, but I can guarantee you that these do not nearly represent the true number of people affected by this decision.

For a bit of context, in 2013, Russia passed an anti-propaganda act that criminalised the promotion of LGBT relationships and culture to people under the age of 18, in books, films, TV or advertising. In 2013, four tourists from the Netherlands were reportedly arrested for having a discussion about LGBT rights with some Russian youths at a camp in Murmansk. This law has been expanded to include all age groups, threatening the right to protest LGBT protections, the ability to host or perform in drag shows, even extremely basic rights like holding hands with one’s partner or having a Pride flag.

The rights of the LGBT community in Russia are under direct attack. This is not a new state, but it has been amplified through this decision. People in Russia are now actively afraid of what this decision means for them, and not without cause. This last week, we have seen Moscow police raiding LGBT bars and clubs in an effort to bully, attack and do as much harm to the LGBT Community as possible. One cannot do anything but mourn this attack on the rights of a minority who, I want to be very clear here, has done absolutely nothing to warrant it.

As will not be surprising to anyone, this action is nothing more but Putin’s efforts to harm those he dislikes, and make sure he doesn’t hear more from them. I would like to inform the House of the actual phrasing of the court’s decision when it was announced, unfortunately it was a closed session of the Court. I would like to be able to thank the defence lawyers for fighting for the rights of our community; I cannot, because there was no defence. I must admit some feeling of deep anger and a tiredness in me regarding this decision, but I also imagine the same feeling is felt a thousand-fold by those who will actually live under this law.

This House must do its part and condemn this move by the Russian Federation in its entirety. The justification for this move, if that’s even the right word for it, is non-existent, and the effects of it will genuinely affect countless people. The idea that LGBT love or identity is an “ideology being spread” is nothing more than a disgusting argument by bigots, and it will never be anything more than that. This decision will cost people their lives, their safety, their freedoms. I have not even touched on the mental health effects of such a move, but they will be extremely dire, if not fatal. We know exactly what happens if someone is banned from being themselves, when “Themselves” is not even a thing to be ashamed of, let alone criminalised.

This is the context in which I submit this legislation, Speaker. A context that is nothing less than horrific, and one can barely think about without rage in their hearts. I implore all my colleagues to vote in favour of this motion, and show opposition to what can only be described as a deliberate attack of hate on innocent people.

This division will end on 18th December at 10pm GMT.