Monitoring of Discriminatory References and Repressive Practices Targeting LGBTQ People in Belarus

The reporting period demonstrates the transition of anti-LGBTQ policy in Belarus to a new stage. While previous monitoring reports documented the institutionalization of discriminatory mechanisms and their active ideological reinforcement, the current period is characterized by the beginning of the practical implementation of the new legislation and its normalization in the public sphere. At the same time, state propaganda has intensified the use of anti-LGBTQ rhetoric as a universal instrument of political mobilization, positioning "traditional Belarus" in opposition not only to the LGBTQ community but also to the democratic opposition, civil society, and European values.

A distinctive feature of the period is the coincidence of the law's entry into force with international Pride Month. Throughout June, state and pro-government media almost daily used Pride events and related developments as a pretext for disseminating homophobic and transphobic rhetoric. LGBTQ-related issues have thus moved beyond discussions of the law itself and have become a permanent element of state information policy.

Entry into Force of the Law and the Strengthening of Russian Ideological Influence

On 19 June 2026, amendments to the Code of Administrative Offences entered into force, introducing liability for the so-called "propaganda of homosexual relationships, gender transition, childlessness, and pedophilia." Coverage of this development in state media demonstrates that the law is perceived not as a technical legislative amendment but as an integral component of state ideology.

For example, in the publication "Law on Punishment for LGBTQ* and Pedophilia Propaganda Enters into Force in Belarus", the headline itself uses the designation "LGBTQ*", accompanied by a reference to the recognition of the "international public LGBTQ movement" as an extremist organization in the Russian Federation. Although no equivalent decision exists in Belarus, the Russian legal construct is presented as an explanatory framework for Belarusian legislation, demonstrating the continued strengthening of Russian ideological influence on the formation of Belarus's state anti-LGBTQ policy.

Pride Month as a Tool of Ideological Mobilization

Throughout June, virtually all major pro-government Telegram channels—including "GUBAZA", "Yellow Plums", and "Ratannihilator"—systematically used Pride Month to disseminate hate speech. European Pride events were portrayed as manifestations of "degradation," "deviance," and the "decay" of the West, while Belarus was contrasted with Europe as a defender of "traditional values."

At the same time, the tendency to equate LGBTQ people with the Belarusian democratic opposition and political emigration has become even more pronounced. The most illustrative example is the publication by "GUBAZA", which explicitly states: "The white-red-white flag equals homosexuality; homosexuality equals the white-red-white flag." Whereas LGBTQ issues had previously served as one of several tools for discrediting political opponents, democratic symbols and homosexuality are now effectively presented as interchangeable. This construct allows accusations of association with LGBTQ people to function as a universal instrument of political delegitimization.

A similar pattern can be observed in the "GUBAZA" publication concerning the Kastus Kalinouski Regiment. An internal conflict within the regiment is described as a confrontation between an "LGBT wing" and a "Nazi wing," while homosexuality is used to undermine masculinity, question combat capability, and politically discredit members of the unit.

Another characteristic feature of the reporting period is the further consolidation of the narrative concerning "foreign funding." Across numerous publications, participation in Pride events, LGBTQ activism, and the activities of the Belarusian democratic diaspora are consistently linked to foreign grants. As a result, anti-LGBTQ rhetoric has become fully integrated into the broader propaganda narrative portraying democratic initiatives as instruments of external control.

Radicalization of Hate Speech and the Legitimization of Repression

During the reporting period, the dehumanizing nature of anti-LGBTQ propaganda intensified further. While previous monitoring periods were primarily characterized by moral stigmatization and the opposition between LGBTQ people and so-called "traditional values," the current period is marked by the increasing use of sexualized forms of humiliation based on imagery of sexual violence, prison subculture, and the denial of masculinity.

This trend is particularly evident in publications by "Ratannihilator", "ZmagarOK", and "Yellow Plums", where sexual orientation and gender identity are used as metaphors for humiliating political opponents. Unlike in previous reporting periods, such rhetoric is directed not only at LGBTQ people but also at human rights defenders, independent journalists, members of the democratic movement, and the Belarusian diaspora.

At the same time, the normalization of repressive practices has continued to deepen. Publications devoted to the detention of participants in the "Gender Council" initiative are accompanied by mockery and assertions that persecution is a natural and deserved consequence of participating in such initiatives. In this way, hate speech increasingly serves to legitimize state violence in the public sphere.

Increase in Documented Cases of Persecution

The intensification of the propaganda campaign has been accompanied by a documented increase in pressure on LGBTQ people.

According to the article "Increase in Persecution of LGBTQ+ People Recorded in Belarus During the First Half of 2026", based on monitoring conducted by TG House, the entry into force of the new legislation has been followed by a significant rise in arbitrary detentions, mobile phone inspections, interrogations, and other forms of pressure by law enforcement authorities. The organization also documents the continued expansion of the practice of designating LGBTQ initiatives as extremist and the persistence of institutional barriers faced by transgender people.

Further evidence of the growing risks is provided by the Euroradio story of a transgender woman from Belarus who was forced to flee the country after facing the threat of criminal prosecution for livestreams in support of LGBTQ people. This case demonstrates that the intensification of anti-LGBTQ policy has a direct impact on the safety of individuals and is forcing members of the community into exile.

Thus, the reporting period demonstrates an increasingly close relationship between state propaganda, legislative changes, and law enforcement practice. Dehumanizing rhetoric not only accompanies repression but also contributes to its public legitimization.

Conclusion

The reporting period demonstrates the transition of anti-LGBTQ policy in Belarus to the stage of practical implementation. While previous periods were characterized by the institutionalization of discriminatory legislation and its active ideological reinforcement, state propaganda is now presenting the law that has entered into force as a new social norm. At the same time, LGBTQ-related issues have definitively become a universal instrument of political mobilization, the delegitimization of the democratic opposition, civil society, and the Belarusian diaspora, as well as one of the central elements in constructing the opposition between Belarus and the "collective West."

Against this backdrop, the connection between hate speech and repressive practice continues to strengthen. The normalization of dehumanizing rhetoric is accompanied by a documented increase in persecution, the expanding application of discriminatory legislation, and growing pressure on LGBTQ people and human rights initiatives. Under these conditions, continued monitoring of anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and repressive practices, sustained international attention, and support for the Belarusian queer community become increasingly important. Documenting violations, preserving safe spaces, supporting independent initiatives, and ensuring access to legal, psychological, and humanitarian assistance remain essential for protecting the community amid escalating repression.