Countries across eastern Europe — including Russia, Hungary and Poland — have created barriers for LGBTIQ+ communities in recent months, which advocates across the world say have been aimed to silence the freedom of LGBTIQ+ people.
The measures have included tarnishing the reputations of inclusive organisations and passing bills that are seen to infringe on LGBTIQ+ rights.
Europe’s peak body for LGBTIQ+ rights, ILGA-Europe, said the world has reached a point where human rights have been compromised across the continent.
“We are at a juncture in history when anti-LGBTI forces are rife,” advocacy director Katrin Hugendubel told SBS News.
“LGBTI people need all governments to seize this moment and make sure Europe remains a committed and active leader in the arena of human rights for everyone.”
Russia
In its latest move, Russia’s Ministry of Justice labelled the country’s leading LGBTIQ+ rights group — Russian LGBT Network — as a “foreign agent” on 8 November.
Since its launch in 2006, the Russian LGBT Network has supported the rights of sexual minority groups in Russia.
They have been forced to brand themselves as a “foreign agent” on all of their social media platforms and tackle tedious administrative procedures. Failure to comply could lead to the organisation facing criminal penalties.
"This was of course done to make our work more difficult," Svetlana Zakharova said, director of the Sfera fund underpinning the Russian LGBT Network.
Amnesty International has called the branding “beyond shameful”.
“What’s really in the national interest is to protect, uphold and respect all human rights for everyone,” said Natalia Zviagina, Amnesty International’s Moscow office director.
“These reprisals against human rights defenders and civil society organisations must stop.”
Homophobia in Russia has been rising since 2013 when the country outlawed "gay propaganda" for minors in controversial legislation that has served as a pretext to ban pride parades and flags.
Poland
Russia's move to ban LGBTIQ+ public expression has been mirrored by Poland after a bill known as "Stop LGBT" was passed in parliament.
Like Russia, the bill aims to ban public gatherings seen to “promote” same-sex relationships which effectively put an end to annual public pride parades.
The bill was proposed by Polish citizens who submitted a petition of support with 140,000 signatures and was put to parliament in October.
"This initiative may not have originated with the Polish government, but let us be clear: the government’s normalisation of hateful rhetoric has created an environment in which people feel empowered to spew bigotry," Amnesty Australia campaigner Lucy Kenny told SBS News.
"Such restrictions are never acceptable, let alone when supposedly ‘justified’ by discrimination."
It has been sent for consideration to the interior affairs commission and is scheduled for debate later this month.
Ms Kenny said the government’s anti-LGBTIQ+ sentiments has provoked Poland’s general public to support the “wider crackdown on LGBTI rights”.
The European Union also weighed in on the issue in July after taking legal action against Poland and Hungary for its anti-LGBTIQ+ measures that have been described as discriminatory.
People gathered outside the Polish Parliament in Warsaw to protest against a proposed law that would put a total ban on equality marches. Source: AAP, SIPA USA
Around 100 areas in Poland that make up a third of the country have declared themselves "LGBT-ideology free zones".
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen described these areas as “humanity-free” zones and said they “have no place in our union”.
After the EU’s threats to withhold funding to Poland, three regions have revoked their status as "LGBT-ideology free", but advocates say it's not enough.
Hungary
Hungary introduced new laws in June that banned "promoting" content that relates to LGBTIQ+ communities for minors, in what has been dubbed the so-called "anti-paedophilia" act.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has faced extensive criticism since his wave of new proposals that support anti-LGBTIQ+ sentiments, amping up the pressure for the next federal election in April 2022.
These laws are the latest in a series of measures Mr Orbán's government said are aimed at fighting paedophilia and protecting children.
Opposition leader Péter Márki-Zay has publicly supported LGBTIQ+ rights and said he wants a country where "love will rule", instead of the "hate campaigns" orchestrated by Mr Orban.
MTV took the opportunity at its EMA awards in Budapest last week to show solidarity to the LGBTIQ+ community.
The entertainment group handed its new "Generation Change award" to five young activists for their advocacy against LGBTIQ+ discrimination around the world.
These positive gestures pave the way for rhetoric to change across not just Eastern Europe, but all European countries that need to improve their policies to support LGBTIQ+ people, said Ms Hugendubel.
"Despite more 'western' countries previously leading the way ... we are currently seeing stagnation in these countries, where it is erroneously believed that the 'work has been done'. In reality, discrimination is rising.
"If governments actively choose to do the right thing and take real action, there could be positive changes very soon."
With additional reporting by AFP.
