Russian Publisher Demands Censorship of Animal Reproduction Book, Citing ‘LGBT Propaganda’ Concerns

Russian science journal forced to censor animal sexuality book under “LGBT propaganda” law

A Russian scientific journal has been ordered to censor a translated book about animal sexuality after its publisher claimed the content violated Russia’s controversial law against “LGBT propaganda,” according to the journal’s editor.

Viktor Kovylin, editor of the scientific journal Batrachospermum, revealed on Tuesday that the publisher demanded urgent changes to the upcoming book, which contains scientific descriptions of same-sex behavior and reproductive diversity in the animal kingdom. The book was scheduled for publication later this year.

According to Kovylin, the publisher objected to neutral scientific descriptions that didn’t express disgust or criticism toward same-sex behavior in animals. Remarkably, even descriptions of hermaphroditic creatures such as snails, slugs, and planarians (flatworms) were flagged as constituting “propaganda of non-traditional relationships” under Russian law.

The censorship extends beyond behaviors to include anatomical descriptions. Kovylin explained that discussion of diverse genitalia is now prohibited, with only penises and vaginas permitted to be mentioned without condemnation. This restriction creates problems for scientific accuracy when describing naturally occurring reproductive organs in various species, including pedipalps (appendages in arachnids used for sperm transfer), aedeaguses (copulatory organs in many insects), and hectocotyli (modified arms used by male octopuses and other cephalopods for transferring sperm).

Perhaps most concerning for scientific publishing in Russia, Kovylin noted that the publisher’s legal analysis of the text was conducted using artificial intelligence rather than human experts. The editorial team now faces a difficult decision: challenge the ruling or undertake the substantial task of rewriting “half the book” to comply with the censorship demands.

While Kovylin did not disclose the book’s title or publisher, all previous publications from Batrachospermum have been released through the Eksmo-AST publishing group. This publishing conglomerate has previously acknowledged using artificial intelligence to censor manuscripts, making it likely they are behind the current demands.

This incident highlights the growing impact of Russia’s expanding censorship laws on scientific and educational materials. The “LGBT propaganda” law, first introduced in 2013 to “protect” minors, was significantly expanded in 2022 to prohibit the “promotion” of LGBTQ+ relationships or issues to Russians of all ages. Critics have long warned that the vague wording of these laws could lead to broad censorship beyond their stated intent.

The scientific community in Russia now faces increasing challenges in publishing objective research about natural phenomena that might conflict with political ideology. This case represents a particularly striking example of how anti-LGBTQ+ legislation can impede scientific education and discourse, even when the content merely describes biological facts about non-human species.

For scientific publishers and researchers globally, this incident raises alarming questions about the future of academic freedom in Russia and other countries implementing similar restrictions. The use of AI to enforce ideological censorship adds another troubling dimension, suggesting a potential future where algorithms, rather than human judgment, determine what scientific knowledge is permissible.

As the Batrachospermum editorial team weighs their options, this case serves as a reminder of the tension between scientific inquiry and political ideology, with significant implications for academic publishing in increasingly restrictive environments.