Russian Court Bans Three LGBT-Themed Movies for "Destructive Ideology"

On June 9, 2026, a district court in the Russian city of St. Petersburg banned the distribution of the films Love, Simon, Kill Your Darlings, and Call Me by Your Name in the country. The court ruled that these movies contain a “destructive ideology”.

The court stated that the films generate interest in “non-traditional sexual relations” and portray them positively. The decision was based on six website links where the movies were available for streaming. These pages must now be blocked in Russia.

All three films were released in the 2010s and gained international recognition. Love, Simon (directed by Greg Berlanti) tells the story of an American high school student hiding his homosexuality. Kill Your Darlings (John Krokidas) focuses on the youth of American poet Allen Ginsberg. Call Me by Your Name (Luca Guadagnino) depicts the coming-of-age and first love of a teenager in Italy.

Over the past few years, Russian legislation regarding LGBT people has become increasingly strict. Since 2022, the country has enforced a law completely banning the so-called “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations” among people of all ages. In 2023, the Supreme Court of Russia designated the “international LGBT public movement” as an extremist organization and banned its activities. Against this background, Russian courts regularly fine streaming services and block access to movies, books, and other media that mention LGBT people.