The Production of Normativity in the Discourses on the Prohibition of “Propaganda of Homosexualism”

The article undertakes a critical analysis of the legislative and discursive mechanisms through which heteronormativity is reinforced in contemporary Russian society. Examining the evolution of regional and federal laws prohibiting so-called “propaganda of homosexualism”, the study interrogates the juridical and rhetorical strategies that construct heterosexuality as the only legitimate norm — and homosexuality as a deviant practice that necessitates state intervention on behalf of minors, including teenagers and children.

Through a discourse analysis of legal texts, court rulings, and policy documents, Gorbachov demonstrates that the term “propaganda” — inherently suggestive of ideological coercion — discursively reframes sexual orientation as a matter of choice or influence. The consistent substitution of neutral terminology such as “homosexuality” with pathologizing terms like “homosexualism” underscores the ideological function of these laws, which rely heavily on appeals to “traditional values” and the association of sexuality with reproduction.

The article argues that these discourses systematically erase LGBTQ+ subjectivities by conflating non-heteronormative identities with social instability, moral corruption, and threats to child welfare. Despite claims of value-neutrality, the prohibition on “propaganda of homosexualism” effectively limits access to affirmative representations of LGBTQ+ people — exacerbates the marginalization of queer youth — and forecloses public discussion on sexual diversity. Gorbachov concludes that these juridico-discursive formations not only enforce normative sexuality but also reconfigure the legal-political landscape to render heteronormativity both natural and compulsory.