Overview
In 2023, Journalists for Tolerance continued their regular monitoring of how LGBTQ+ topics are addressed in Belarusian media. This report covers the period from January to October and is part of a multi-year effort to document discriminatory rhetoric and hate speech in public discourse.
The team analysed 441 publications across 28 online media outlets, including both national and regional websites and Telegram channels. Each piece was examined for signs of incorrect vocabulary and hate speech. Particular attention was paid to texts that appeared formally correct but communicated discriminatory messages through structure or implication.
Trends in 2023
The situation in 2023 remains tense. Despite a slight majority of publications using correct vocabulary (51% versus 49%), almost half of all LGBTQ+-related texts still contained hate speech. This level is slightly higher than in 2022 and significantly above the 24% recorded in 2021. The exponential growth in hate speech seen between 2020 and 2022 seems to have slowed but has not been reversed.
A disturbing trend continued from 2022: some publications used formally correct language while still inciting hatred. In 2023, 7% of the materials fell into this category. Meanwhile, nearly 90% of the texts with incorrect vocabulary also contained discriminatory or dehumanising statements, indicating a strong and stable link between stereotyping and hate speech.
On a more positive note, national media showed slight improvement compared to 2022, while regional outlets were the primary source of openly hostile rhetoric. This shift suggests that efforts to promote ethical standards may be gaining traction in some editorial environments.
Focus and Visibility
Only 40% of analysed texts focused entirely on LGBTQ+ topics. The rest included LGBTQ+ references in a sentence or short paragraph, often in a negative or decontextualised way. Notably, incorrect vocabulary and hate speech were increasingly found in longer, dedicated articles — a reversal of previous patterns, where superficial mentions were more likely to be problematic.
This change suggests that visibility alone no longer guarantees better-quality representation. Instead, LGBTQ+ issues are now often used as deliberate rhetorical targets in ideologically driven narratives.
Language and Key Concepts
The terms “LGBT” and “gay” remained the most frequently used labels for the community. Other top mentions included “transgender,” “same-sex relationships,” and “non-traditional orientation.” These terms were often employed by state-affiliated media in the context of attacking Western values or promoting “traditional” norms.
Stigmatising expressions such as “sexual minority,” “homosexualism,” “sodomite,” “rainbow,” and “tranny” appeared in 15% of all texts — a figure consistent with previous years. Although this level of use has not increased, the lack of progress is telling. Such language remains a persistent tool for ideological manipulation.
Conclusions and Recommendations
Belarusian media continued to construct a hostile information environment for LGBTQ+ people throughout 2023. While a few national outlets showed marginal improvement, the overall landscape remains unstable and threatening. Regional media remain a particular concern, with LGBTQ+ coverage often limited to stories that incite fear, disgust, or hostility.
The monitoring findings clearly indicate that hate speech has not only persisted but has become more nuanced and embedded in professional journalism practices. “Neutral” language is now often used to deliver harmful messages in more subtle ways.
There is an urgent need to reinforce journalistic ethics, strengthen professional training, and support independent platforms that promote respectful, inclusive media coverage. Media literacy among audiences must also be increased to recognise not only blatant hate speech but its more covert forms.
The full report and supporting data are available upon request.
