Visualizing the Emergence of Political Homophobia: Anti-LGBTQ+ and Anti-Ukrainian Sentiment in Russian Public Opinion
Journal: Socius Sociological Research for a Dynamic World
Year: 2024

On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, escalating a conflict that began in 2014 with the annexation of Crimea. Before the annexation, Russia’s anti-gay propaganda legislation set a precedent for homophobic laws worldwide. Over the past decade, Russia implemented numerous anti-LGBTQ+ laws, including the recent ban on gender reassignment. Through state-controlled media, Russian leadership portrayed both of these efforts as defending the nation against Western influence. So, I ask: Did it wo