Russia Seeks Supreme Court Ruling to Suppress LGBTQ+ Rights

The Russian Justice Ministry has filed a lawsuit with the country's Supreme Court to declare the LGBTQ+ "international public movement" as extremist, citing "signs and manifestations of extremist nature" and "incitement of social and religious discord." This move represents the latest blow against the LGBTQ+ community in Russia, where a decade-long crackdown on gay rights has been underway. If the Supreme Court sides with the ministry, it remains unclear what the label would entail for LGBTQ+ people in Russia. President Vladimir Putin has consistently emphasized "traditional family values" and pushed through legislation restricting LGBTQ+ rights, including a ban on same-sex marriage and a law prohibiting propaganda of "nontraditional sexual relations."