Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a blistering attack on "Western liberalism" and criticized calls to enhance the rights of homosexuals and transgender individuals, in a move aimed at "unifying hardline conservatives around him." In a speech described as "fiery" by the Washington Post, delivered on Thursday at the Valdai International Forum in Sochi, Putin emphasized that his country must adhere to its "spiritual values and historical traditions," and must move away from the "social and cultural upheavals" of the West.
Putin stated that some in the West believe that "erasing entire pages of their history and reversing discrimination—making it against the majority in favor of minorities—is a kind of renewal for society." He added, having previously told the Financial Times in 2019 that liberal values had become "outdated" and that there should be a commitment to traditional family values, "that is their right, but we ask them to stay away from us because we have a different viewpoint."
In his comments on Thursday, the Russian president described teaching children that "a boy can become a girl and vice versa" as a "hideous" idea that approaches being a "crime against humanity." He also noted that supporters of transgender rights are calling to put an end to "obvious things, like mother or father, family, or the differences between genders."
The Washington Post stated that "the authoritarian Russian leader seeks to portray himself as a symbol of masculinity," citing an example when he was photographed shirtless riding a horse as he intensified a campaign led by the authorities against sexual minorities in Russia. Numerous credible reports confirm that Russia has witnessed many instances of torture and imprisonment of gay individuals under Putin's rule, according to the newspaper. In 2013, Putin signed a law prohibiting the dissemination of "propaganda for homosexuality" among Russian youth, which Human Rights Watch claims led to increased hostility towards LGBTQ communities and made it difficult for children to access information about non-traditional relationships.
The Washington Post pointed out that Putin's statements are not much different from the speeches of many right-wing leaders in Eastern Europe and the United States who target sexual minorities in an effort to garner support. Tatyana Stanovaya, head of the research center "R.Politik" specialized in Russian policy, wrote on her Telegram channel that Putin is trying, through these statements, to "gather hardline conservatives and supporters of traditional values around him."
LGBT individuals face increasing pressure in Russia after President Vladimir Putin adopted a more conservative approach since his third term began in 2012. The controversial 2013 law in Russia bans any positive portrayal of homosexuals, labeling it as "propaganda." Anyone convicted of sharing information regarding this with minors can face hefty fines or up to 15 years in prison. Recent constitutional amendments in Russia also effectively reinforced the ban on same-sex marriage.
