Over the recent years Russians has become less tolerant towards homosexuality. The share of those who oppose same –sex marriage has considerably increased.
MOSCOW, June 11, 2013. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the information concerning how Russians perceive homosexuality; what they think about the ban on gay propaganda and about same-sex marriage.
The overwhelming majority of Russians support the ban on gay propaganda (88%, in 2012 – 86%). Only 7% of Russians opposes this ban.
A relative majority of Russians believe that nontraditional sexuality should be prosecuted (42%); the share of such respondents was only 19% in 2007. One-quarter of respondents are confident that nontraditional sexuality should be subject to public condemnation (25%, in 2007 – 18%). The share of those who propose penalties has slightly increased (from 12 to 15%). On the contrary, the share of those who say that the state and society should not interfere with that has decreased (from 34% in 2007 to 15% currently).
More Russians perceive homosexuality negatively: 54% believe it should be banned or even prosecuted. Thirty-three percent believe that homosexuality should be limited (in 2007 – 21%). And only 9% think that homosexuality should not be banned or limited.
Over the recent years the share of those who oppose same-sex marriage has increased: from 59% in 2005 to 86% currently. At the same time, the share of those who believe that same-sex couples can marry has dramatically decreased (from 14 to 4%). The number of those who partly agree or partly disagree with this statement has also decreased (from 17 to 6%).
The VCIOM opinion polls were conducted on June 8-9, 2013. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 13 communities in 42 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
A possible ban on gay propaganda has been widely discussed in Russia. In many regions this ban is already in force. Do you support this ban, or not? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||
| 2012 | 2013 |
Rather support | 86 | 88 |
Rather not support | 6 | 7 |
Hard to tell | 8 | 5 |
How the state and society should perceive nontraditional sexuality? (close-ended question, one answer) | |||
| 2005 | 2007 | 2013 |
It should be prosecuted, up to imprisonment | 23 | 19 | 42 |
Penalties should be introduced | 10 | 12 | 15 |
It should be subject to public condemnation | 19 | 18 | 25 |
State and society should not interfere with that; this is a private business of each person | 34 | 34 | 15 |
Hard to tell | 14 | 18 | 4 |
Representatives of religious communities call for a ban on nontraditional sexuality as being contrary to norms set by the Church. What is your personal attitude towards homosexuality? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||
| 2006 | 2013 |
It should be banned up to criminal liability | 57 | 54 |
It should not be banned but limited | 21 | 33 |
It should not be banned, nor limited | 14 | 9 |
Hard to tell | 8 | 5 |
Do you personally agree that same-gender couples (gays and lesbians) should have right to marry? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||
| 2005 | 2013 |
Completely agree | 4 | 2 |
Rather agree | 10 | 2 |
Partly agree, partly not | 17 | 6 |
Rather disagree | 25 | 19 |
Completely disagree | 34 | 67 |
Hard to tell | 10 | 4 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!