When Russia passed a law banning what it called “propaganda of non-traditional relationships,” it made positive discussion about LGBT relationships illegal. The official rationale for the law was to protect children. But the reality is that it hurts them. Over the past two years, Human Rights Watch has interviewed LGBT children in Russia about the law’s devastating effect on their lives. Researcher Kyle Knight spoke with Philippa Stewart about his new report and how Russia can help protect its LGBT youth from further harm.

What did the “gay propaganda” law, as it is called, actually say and what were its real-world consequences?

What it says is that you’re not allowed to share information in public, where a child might hear, about “non-traditional relationships.” This is universally understood to mean same-sex relationships, relationships with trans people, and so on.

What it does is more than slapping “offenders” with fines – it gives high-level social sanction for hating LGBT people. It gave vigilantes a sense of permission to attack LGBT people. We showed how it encouraged anti-LGBT violence in a 2014 report. When the law was being pushed through parliament people said it wasn’t anti-LGBT people, it was about protecting children, protecting traditional values. But far from protecting children, it is destroying some kids’ lives. Read more via HRW

Russia’s “Gay Propaganda” Law Imperils LGBT Youth