Belarus passes bill to crack down on LGBTQ+ rights echoing similar law in Russia

Belarus passes bill to crack down on LGBTQ+ rights echoing similar law in Russia

Belarus’s parliament has approved a bill on Thursday that imposes penalties on individuals advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, mirroring similar measures enacted in Russia. The upper house gave final approval for the legislation after it was passed by the lower house last month, and the law awaits President Aliaksandr Lukashenka’s expected signature before taking effect.

The new law targets actions such as promoting homosexual relationships, gender transition, refusing to have children, and paedophilia, which could result in fines, community service, or up to 15 days of detention. While Belarus decriminalized homosexuality in 1994 following the Soviet Union’s dissolution, it still does not recognize same-sex marriages or provide legal safeguards for LGBTQ+ individuals.

Lukashenka, who has governed the nation of 9.5 million for over three decades, has openly ridiculed homosexuality. His regime has faced repeated sanctions from Western countries, both for its human rights violations and for allowing Moscow to use Belarus’s territory during Ukraine’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

Local LGBTQ+ organizations have been disbanded, and security forces frequently raid nightclubs to disrupt private gay gatherings. Rights advocates claim the country’s top intelligence agency, the KGB, has pressured members of the LGBTQ+ community into collaboration through intimidation. “Even before this bill, LGBTQ+ people endured beatings, arrests, and mockery,” said Alisa Sarmant, head of TG House, a group supporting transgender rights. “Now, law enforcement has a legal basis to intensify these attacks.”

TG House has reported at least 12 instances of LGBTQ+ persecution in the past three months, including a recent police raid on a Minsk nightclub during a private gathering. Sarmant highlighted concerns that transgender individuals may face barriers to obtaining essential medications under the new law. The group has already received hundreds of requests for psychological support and assistance in relocating abroad.

“The Belarusian government has conflated gays, lesbians, trans individuals, and paedophiles,” Sarmant stated. “This creates fresh justifications for social exclusion and prejudice.” She added that the legislation reflects Russia’s approach, worsening conditions for the LGBTQ+ community. In Russia, gender transition, affirming care, and public displays of gay or trans identities are outlawed, with activists potentially facing up to six years in prison.