Ask Lemmygrad

The Russian Federation isn't the USSR. The Federation is a pretty conservative reactionary force that is in no way socialist, as much as the west likes to paint them as such. The CPC is, and while they may be overarching allies on many issues it doesn't mean they are going to see eye-to-eye on everything, especially social issues. It's not surprising that they are very regressive on many social policies. This isn't unique to Russia though, it does seem strange to single them out on it.

I have seen some folks make the mistake of assuming that since we generally don't support the Ukranian side of the ongoing conflict that we must inherently support Russia in all things. That is not the case, and that kind of binary thinking is an artifact of western indoctrination. Understanding that Russia has reasons for the invasion (they do) and that all Russian people are not inhuman monsters (they aren't) isn't the same as uncritical support for them in all things.

Communists should not uncritically support Russia out of some misguided nostalgia for the Soviet Union, nor simply as a contrarian stance.

Obviously Putin isn't communist and neither is his government and nor do they mostly claim to be. I don't see why we as communists need to explain why bigots somewhere are institutionalising LGBT-phobia as if it's a phenomenon unique to Russia. But as the other user pointed out, Orthodox Christianity in Russia (and most big Christian denominations worldwide) goes hand-in-hand with reactionary ideas such as "protecting family" or "traditional values". Kinda like those guys beyond the Bering Strait.

Edit: as for the last question, freechat is usually a better place, but if it's about LGBT discussions there's always literally !lgbt

Not a Russia expert by any means but this is how I understand the situation:

• The Eastern Orthodox Church gained influence after the fall of the USSR and used it to spread anti-LGBT sentiment
• Russian leadership are conservative reactionaries and the KPRF, the largest opposition party (and only nominally communist), is also quite reactionary
• Due to the way the US weaponizes the concept of human rights, being anti-queer is seen as being anti-imperialist in many countries outside the West, including Russia

I had another point that I forgot while I was typing this up because I'm trying to function on 3 hours sleep lol. If I remember it I'll update

what else is to be expected from a capitalist country with active interference of religion in state affairs? i don't believe queer liberation will ever be possible under capitalism anyways.

despite that, these news are still tragic of course. the state's treatment of queer people in my country is similar to what russia is trying to implement and i don't wish than on anyone. even though homosexuality is not expliclitly illegal here and transitioning is technically legal, gay* people still get arrested on prostitution and public indecency charges instead of homosexuality charges, and trans people can't change their legal identification anymore because the committee that would authorize it has not operated in years and is leaving trans people in limbo.

I blame al shaytan al akbar

It’s because they’re cowards.

Current Russian culture is racing towards a traditionalist,.Tsarist, Orthodox Russia.