by Erkka Mikkonen. Presented at Sexpo Foundation's 45th Anniversary Seminar on Sexual Rights @ University of Helsinki, November 2014.

1. LIFE UNDER
RUSSIA’S ANTI-GAY LAW
Erkka Mikkonen
Foreign reporter in Moscow, Russia
Finnish Broadcasting Company Yleisradio
@erkanomia
20.11.2014

2. ”GAY-PROPAGANDA LAW”
• approved by the State Duma on 11 June 2013
• signed into law by president Putin on 30 June 2013
• fines up to
– 5 000 RUB for a citizen
– 50 000 RUB for a public official
– 1 million RUB for a organization or business
+ shutting down for up to 90 days
• similar laws at the regional level

3. ”GAY-PROPAGANDA LAW”
• protecting children from
”PROPAGANDA of NON-TRADITIONAL sexual relationships”
• turn to the CONSERVATIVE VALUES

4. IN YOUR OPINION,
HOMOSEXUALITY IS MOSTLY..
Aug
1998
Aug
2005
July
2010
July
2012
May
2013
illness or psychologial disorder
33 31 36 32 35
immorality, unhealthy habit
35 36 38 43 43
sexual orientation,
which has a right to exist 18 20 15 17 12
sign of special genius or talent 1 1 1 1 1
i find the question difficult to answer
13 12 11 9 10
Levada-Center 17.5.2013

5. DOES YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARD AN ACQUANTAINCE CHANGE,
IF HE CONFESSES TO BE A PART OF THE SEXUAL MINORITY?
changes for better 2
does not change 29
changes for worse 50
I find this question difficult to answer 19
Levada-Center 3.7.2013

6. EFFECTS OF ”GAY-PROPAGANDA LAW”
• the number of legal judgements low
• indirect effects:
RISK OF TEENAGE SUICIDES
VIOLENCE TOWARDS HLBTIQ
COMMON ATTITUDES TOWARDS HLBTIQ

7. IN YOUR OPINION,
SHOULD THE STATE PROTECT HOMOSEXUALS
AGAINST AGGRESSION IN SOCIETY?
definitely yes 5
rather yes 33
rather no 27
definitely no 17
I find this question difficult to answer 18
Levada-Center 17.5.2013

8. HOW DO YOU ACT,
IF YOUR OWN CHILD CONFESSES TO HAVE
A NON-TRADIONAL SEXUAL ORIENTATION?
I love him and wish him happiness, regardless the sex of his partner 6
I get upset, but I give him an opportunity to live the way he wants to 11
I try to discuss it with him, figure out the situation 26
I try to convince or force him to live heterosexual way of life 8
I seek help from specialists 22
I drive him away from home and quit communicating with him 5
I find this question difficult to answer 22
Levada-Center 3.7.2013

9. DETI-404 (Children-404)
• created on 11 March 2013
• 2 000 letters from teenagers
• 40 000 members in Vkontakte
• a documental film
• www.deti-404.com

10. IN YOUR OPINION,
SHOULD THE STATE INTERFERE WITH ANY PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION
OF HOMOSEXUALITY AND ITS JUSTIFICATION?
definitely yes 48
rather yes 25
rather no 8
definitely no 6
I find this question difficult to answer 14
Levada-Center 17.5.2013

11. DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THE STATEMENT
“GAY AND LESBIAN SHOULD HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS
AS THE REST OF CITIZENS IN RUSSIA” ?
Aug
2005
July
2010
July
2012
May
2013
totally agree 17 12 13 7
rather agree 34 33 33 32
rather disagree 19 22 22 28
totally disagree 16 19 18 19
I find this question difficult to answer 14 15 13 15
Levada-Center 17.5.2013

12. WHAT IS GAY PROPAGANDA?