Russia Implements Sweeping Ban on LGBTQ+ Movement

Russia's Ministry of Justice has filed a motion to the Russian Supreme Court seeking to ban the LGBTQ+ movement as an extremist organization, accusing it of inciting social and religious discord. The court hearing is scheduled for November 30. It remains unclear whether the ban would target specific LGBTQ+ groups or potentially classify any LGBTQ+ person as extremist. This move is part of a broader crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights in Russia, with President Vladimir Putin allowing violence against the community to increase and implementing restrictive policies such as prohibiting trans people from becoming foster or adoptive parents and making gender-affirming surgery illegal.