Russia's Expanded Anti-LGBTQ+ Crackdown, Explained
ForbesNov 28, 2023
The Facts
Belarus has produced a draft law that would, if implemented, punish the "promotion of non-traditional relationships," state media claimed on Monday.
According to the country's Prosecutor General, Andrei Shved, the lawmakers' bill would establish "administrative liability" for promoting "abnormal relationships, pedophilia, and the voluntary refusal to have children."
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
In a modern world where morals seem to degrade daily, Belarus is doing its best to hold on to traditional family values and protect the orthodox principles that have sustained the country for centuries. This proposed law will protect Belarusian society from destructive Western ideologies.
Pro-establishment narrative
This legislation reveals a deeply ingrained, increasingly hostile bias against the LGBTQ+ community. By targeting the freedom of expression and the rights of LGBTQ+ citizens, the Belarusian government is aiming to silence an already marginalized community and enforce conformity to state-sanctioned norms of behavior and family structures.