Russification or Russizination is defined as a form of cultural assimilation in which “non-Russian” communities forfeit their cultural identity to conform to Russian norms and traditions.

Throughout history, Russian politicians and social figures have sought to further “russify” Russia as a form of extreme patriotism. For instance, the slogan and political doctrine, “Russia for Russians” originated during the 19th century. This nationalist slogan, which was popularized by Russian general Mikhail Skobelev,1 expresses the sentiments of cultural intolerance, ethnocentrism and borderline xenophobia present in Russian politics during the 19th century. Mikhail Skobelev supported political campaigns promoting uncustomary Russian citizens to conform to Russian tradition as a way to maintain a sense of Russian “dignity and pride”2 Despite Russia’s development and modernization throughout time, the sentiments of xenophobia and extreme ethnocentrism has not changed. Currently in the 21st century, Russian officials and policymakers are striving to preserve Russian tradition and cultural customs. Due to this, Russian government officials and public figures have (knowingly or unknowingly) endorsed the institutionalization of homophobia. This research paper will explore how the Russian Orthodox Church and government officials have assisted in the institutionalization of homophobia and ostracization of homosexuals from Russian society.

Institutional homophobia refers to the various ways that the government, businesses or religious institutions promote or sponsor homophobia. Without a doubt, the Russian Orthodox Church plays an integral role in the life of most Russian citizens. Putin even regards Christianity as the “root of Russian identity”.3 Additionally, public polls and parish figures show that the Russian Orthodox Church is the largest Eastern Orthodox church in the entire world.4 However, this was not always the case. In fact, there was a time where religious expression was banned. Stalin orchestrated an anti-religious campaign during Soviet rule, which completely outlawed public displays of religiosity and supported religious persecution.5 During this time, the bishops and clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church were imprisoned and executed. In addition to this, public displays of homoeroticism were legal. However, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the credibility and popularity of the Russian Orthodox Church was reinstated. The restoration of the Russian Orthodox church also restored sentiments of homophobia and prejudice. To this day, the church continues to mold the sociocultural values of Russian individuals. In certain ways, the church has created a sense of stability and unity by outlining the values that Russians should obey. This was especially true during Tsarist Russia when the church convinced Russians that defying the crown was synonymous to defying God himself.6 However, the Russian Orthodox Church has also created disorder and disunity in Russia by utilizing homophobic hate-rhetoric and publicly endorsing homophobia. For example, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill I, made a public statement regarding gay marriage as a “very dangerous apocalyptic symptom.”7 Following this, Sergei Rybko, a Russian Orthodox priest linked the legalization of homosexuality to pedophilia.8 As can be seen, the Russian church utilizes socially and politically inflammatory hate rhetoric to demonize homosexuals and support homophobia. In this regard, the church is a social institution that institutionalized homophobia for decades.

However, the Russian church is not the only institution to blame for this. Russian politicians and public figures have systematically oppressed homosexuals for an extensive periods of time. For instance in 1832, the Tsar Nicholas I outlawed muzhelozhstvo9 which translates to sodomy in the English language. According to Nicholas I, this was done to preserve Russian morals, ethics and sense of religiosity and “Russian dignity”. Flashing forward 85 years, Stalin re-criminalized homosexuality and asserted that public displays of homoeroticism are punishable by life imprisonment.10 During the mid 1900’s, homophobia persisted during the reign of Nikita Khrushchev. Khrushchev endorsed a Soviet sex manual which asserted: “… Homosexuals seek out and win the confidence of youngsters…. Do not under any circumstances allow them to touch you. Such people should be immediately reported to the administrative organs so that they can be removed from society.”11 Institutionalized homophobia exists when major social and political institutions publicly support homophobia. As can be seen, state endorsed homophobia has persisted across several generations, from the rule of the Tsar to the reign of Nikita Khrushchev in the mid 1900’s. The methods that these institutions implement to institutionalize homophobia are well known: hate rhetoric in speeches, corporal punishment, over-policing gay communities, and discriminatory legislature. However, what many people do not know is that the cycle of systematic oppression still hasn’t been broken.

In a fairly recent New York Times article titled “Fueling Homophobia in Russia”12 the editorial board of NYT investigates the “gay propaganda law”. The central focus of the New York Times article is the exploration of what the law insinuates about modern Russian society and how the law has affected the daily lives of Russian homosexuals. The article begins by providing the audience with relevant background information including the date the law was enacted and the sentiments behind it. The “gay propaganda law” was constructed by the Duma and signed by President Putin in 2013. The name of this law translates to: “The law for the purpose of protecting children from information advocating for a denial of traditional family values”. Due to its long name, the law is commonly referred to as the “gay propaganda law” or the “anti-gay” law. The “gay propaganda law” aims to protect children from being exposed to homo-normative content. Putin and the State Duma proclaim that the exposure of homoerotic content at a young age is toxic to a child’s perception and distorts their understanding of sexual and romantic relationships.13 In the eyes of both Putin and the Duma, the publication of homosexuality inadvertently portrays homosexuality as a “behavioral norm”. Additionally, Russian policy makers believe that public displays of homosexuality are disrespectful to Russia’s moral codes and normative traditions. For instance; Ivan Nikitchuk, one of the lawmakers who constructed the logistical framework of this law described the gay propaganda law as an effort to preserve “public health” and “public morals”.14 The New York Times article introduces a statement from Ivan Nikitchuk: “This is our country, where we’ve always respected traditions, where we’ve always had and still have today a conscience and the concept of shame,”. This quote perfectly encapsulates the sentiments of this hate-fueled doctrine in only three lines: Homosexuality is NOT Russian.

The New York Times article also explores Putin’s public stance on the infamous gay propaganda law. When regarding the gay propaganda law, Putin claims the law reflects the ideologies of most Russian civilians and does not reinforce discrimination or endorse the complete erasure of homosexuality from Russian society. President Putin even goes so far as to claim, “… in Russia there are no infringements on sexual minorities’ rights. They’re people, just like everyone else, and they enjoy full rights and freedoms.”15 This statement would only be true if homosexuals were not persecuted and stripped of many social and civil rights on a day to day basis. However, homosexuals are being victimized and forced into hiding to avoid becoming a target to hate crimes and oppression. Russian homosexuals are not treated the same way as “conventional Russians”16 are treated. In fact, Russian citizens are not even treated like Russians. For instance, Russian homosexuals do not have the same freedom of expression that heterosexual citizens have. For Russian homosexuals, publicly expressing their sexuality could mean being charged for distributing “gay propaganda”. Additionally, same sex marriage is outlawed and authorities of the North Caucasus republic are currently arresting and torturing homosexuals in Chechnya underneath the jurisdiction of the gay propaganda law.17

In sum, the Russian church and members of the executive and legislative branch have helped institutionalize homophobia through the use of hate speeches and discriminatory policies. An important fact to note is that the hate endorsed by public figures will only continue to feed the flame of ethnocentrism, xenophobia and hatred. It is only a matter of time before a new social group will be victimized and persecuted. After this group is repudiated, a new social group will be chosen and the cycle of oppression will continue. In recent news, Skobelev’s political mantra “Russia for Russians” has re emerged into modern Russian society. This time, the statement is being utilized to ostracize ethnic Russians or “русский”,18 and Jewish individuals or “zhydovka”19 from Russian society. A question that has persisted throughout generations and decades still hasn’t been answered: Who exactly are the Russians that Skobelev is referencing?

Notes

1. “Russian line / library of periodicals:” Russia for Russians: Pro Et contra. Vosinstvo.Ru Accessed January 16, 2019. https://rusk.ru/st.php?idar=174842.

2. Ibid,

3. La Stampa. “Putin: “Christianity Is the Root of Russian Identity,” La Stampa. August 01, 2018. Accessed October 28, 2018. https://www.lastampa.it/2018/08/01/vaticaninsider/putin-christianity-is-the-root-of-russian-identity-9sweSbNz1pYkzepowyiRCI/pagina.html

4. “The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church recognized that it was impossible to remain in Eucharistic communion with the Patriarchate of Constantinople,” Russian Orthodox Church. Accessed October 29, 2018. http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/5283737.html

5.. “Anti-religious Campaigns,” Revelations from the Russian Archives. Library of Congress. Accessed October 29, 2018. https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/archives/anti.html

6. Kort, Michael. The Soviet Colossus: A History of the USSR. London: Routledge, 1992.

7. Zaimov, Stoyan. “Russian Orthodox Church Warns Society on Same-Sex Marriage Danger, Survival of Humankind,” The Christian Post. January 30, 2014. Accessed October 29, 2018. https://www.christianpost.com/news/russian-orthodox-church-warns-society-on-same-sex-marriage-danger-survival-of-humankind-113674/.

8. Ibid.

9. Gent, Jeffrey. “The History of Homosexuality in Russia.” Homo History. January 01, 1970. Accessed October 29, 2018. http://www.homohistory.com/2013/09/the-history-of-homosexuality-in-russia.html.

10. “SLAVA MOGUTIN.” Gay in the Gulag. Accessed October 29, 2018. http://slavamogutin.com/gay-in-the-gulag/.

11. BARSHAY, JILL J. “Russia’s Gay Men Step Out of Soviet-Era Shadows.” The New York Times. February 10, 1993. Accessed October 29, 2018 https://www.nytimes.com/1993/02/10/world/russia-s-gay-men-step-out-of-soviet-era-shadows.html.

12. Board, The Editorial. “Opinion | Fueling Homophobia in Russia.” The New York Times. January 19, 2018. Accessed October 29, 2018. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/19/opinion/fueling-homophobia-in-russia.html.

13. “Law On protecting Children from Negative And harmful Information.” President Of Russia. January 03, 2011. Accessed October 29, 2018. http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/9996.

14. Chan, Sewell. “Russia’s ‘Gay Propaganda’ Laws Are Illegal, European Court Rules.” The New York Times. June 20, 2017. Accessed October 29, 2018.

15. Board, The Editorial. “Opinion | Fueling Homophobia in Russia.” The New York Times. January 19, 2018. Accessed October 29, 2018.

16. In this sentence a “conventional Russian” means a Russian who is: non-ethnic, Christian, cisgender and heterosexual.

17. Rainsford, Sarah. “Chechen ‘gay Purge’ Victim: ‘No One Knows Who Will Be Next’.” BBC News. October 17, 2017. Accessed October 29, 2018. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41645281.

18. “The Slogans “Russia for Russians!” And “Kill Hacha!” Echo of Moscow. Accessed January 24, 2019. https://echo.msk.ru/news/615862-echo.html

19. Atlas of Humanity”Russians in the World.” Atlas Of Humanity. Accessed January 16, 2019. https://www.atlasofhumanity.com/russian

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