Russia’s ongoing spate of laws that discriminate against LGBT Russians reflects poorly on Russia’s understanding of, and commitment to, democratic norms and universal human rights obligations. This, of course, is the Council’s primary focus.
However, Russia’s anti-LGBT laws also directly threaten Russia’s own interests. They impede travel and tourism – by gay and transgender foreigners, yes, but also by those who worry about Russia’s commitment to the rule of law. They undermine citizen-to-citizen exchanges – so vital to the breadth and strength of bilateral ties. And they harm the ability of American and multinational companies operating in Russia to take logical, efficient business decisions to allow them to grow in mutually productive ways.
Companies that publicly support the fair and equal treatment of LGBT employees have an obligation to examine how the ambiguities of Russia’s laws may work to the detriment of their business interests in that country. They also carry an obligation to support the well-being of their LGBT employees – both expatriate and locally hired. The following questions are intended to help guide companies in considering what they can and cannot do in the current uncertain legal environment – and at encouraging them to be pro-active in expressing to authorities why laws that discriminate against LGBT people are bad for business.
Download: Questions for Corporate Consideration Regarding Russia’s New “Anti-Propaganda” Law
