Transgender Russians have also been allowed to change their legal gender on identity documents since 1997, although there are many obstacles to the process and invasive surgical requirements remain in place. Most notably, homosexual relationships were decriminalized in 1993. LGBT People Are Being Targeted by Anti-LGBT Propaganda and Foreign Agents Lawsįollowing the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia liberalized some of its anti-LGBT laws. This fact sheet summarizes the developments in Russia and the guidance that we have received to date from our colleagues in Russia. And if Russia wants to uphold the Olympic spirit, then every judgment should be made on the track, or in the swimming pool, or on the balance beam, and people’s sexual orientation shouldn’t have anything to do with it.” – President Obama They’re athletes, they’re there to compete. “I think Putin and Russia have a big stake in making sure the Olympics work, and I think they understand that for most of the countries that participate in the Olympics, we wouldn’t tolerate gays and lesbians being treated differently. President Obama addressed the issue on the Tonight Show, saying:
In recent months, public attention to the ongoing crackdown on LGBT rights in the Russian Federation and its potential impact on the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia in February 2014 has increased significantly.
