Last month, Fondation Émergence launched its “Sochi 2014” campaign to draw public attention to the anti-gay law adopted by Russia.

Since the launch, Russia has been trying to reassure the international community, whilst intensifying its anti-gay rhetoric when addressing its national audience.

State-Sponsored Homophobia

For example, state-sponsored television recently broadcast a program loaded with homophobia. In addition, Mr. Pavel Astakhov, ombudsman for children’s rights, said that anyone promoting the rights of single-sex families should be “made outcasts, damned for centuries as destroyers of the family and of human kind.” (Source: Washington Post).

Applicable to individuals, the law also concerns the media and businesses:

• November 4, 2013: A Russian newspaper is accused of breaking the country’s “gay propaganda” law because it published a news story about a teacher who was fired because of his sexual orientation. (Source: The Guardian)
• November 21, 2013: Ikea removes lesbian couple from Russian edition of magazine for fear of breaking ‘homosexual propaganda’ law. (Source: The Gaurdian)

Continuation of the Campaign

In this context, Fondation Émergence continues its campaign to promote fair treatment for LGBT people.