HOMOSEXUALITY IN RUSSIA: ARE THERE REASONS TO BE HOMOPHOBIC TODAY?

In 2013, the State Duma of Russian Federation passed the federal law banning the "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships among minors" which provoked a great amount of discussion between sexual minorities and their opponents in media: the former started criticizing the law, considering it derogatory to their rights, the latter resumed their attacks on the homosexuals after a long silence. Many sociologists considered it as a basis to assume that homophobia returned to life in Russia. According to American Psychological Association, only 16% of Russian population is ready to accept homosexuality as a norm (compared to 60% in the USA and 80% in Europe). This is the public opinion on homosexuality in Russia. And this very attitude towards LGBT representatives, suspicious and scornful, regarding them as not quite healthy people, allows sociologists to suggest that homophobic sentiment is rising again in our country. The article endeavors to examine the arguments of opponents of non-traditional sexual orientation and to trace the ideological source of Russian homophobia. To achieve this goal, the authors of this review tried to answer the questions: is it proper to prove homosexuality as a normal behavior by referring to homosexual behavior of animals, how much is homosexuality conditioned by the norms of Russian culture, what is its contribution to art, what world religions say about same-sex relationships, what is its impact on the social development, what modern medicine says about this phenomenon. The paper tries to reproduce the arguments of homophobic logic which is very popular in Russia today, to understand its source and ideological basis. This was done only in order to find compromises and to produce well-grounded, tolerant positions for the both sides. The authors hope that the considerations presented in this article will aid to solve such an important socio-cultural problem as the confrontation of homo- and heterosexuals and will contribute to the guarantee of human rights and freedoms in Russian Federation.