Belarus groups LGBTQ+ people with ‘paedophiles’ with new anti-propaganda law
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Putin (Getty Images)
On Wednesday (15 April), Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko signed a sweeping new law banning so-called “propaganda” of LGBTQ+ identities.
The legislation controversially groups homosexuality and gender transition alongside paedophiles and “refusal to have children”.
Human rights groups and international bodies have condemned the move as a dangerous escalation that further stigmatises the already vulnerable LGBTQ+ community in Belarus.
“By conflating human rights advocacy and information about sexual orientation, gender identity, and reproductive autonomy with administrative offences, the authorities are fuelling prejudice and legitimising discrimination. Persecution against already marginalised groups and defenders of their rights,” the United Nations Human Rights Council panel said.
Human Rights Watch said the policy mirrors similar legislation in Russia, where so-called “anti-propaganda” laws have been used to silence activists, shut down organisations, and restrict public expression.
LGBTQ+ groups within Belarus say the law will intensify an already hostile environment, where raids, surveillance, and harassment are reportedly common.
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