I think it's pretty clear that this is just a smear campaign against Russia by media in Western Europe and the USA.

They can't find a lot of ACTUAL problems in Russia that aren't also present in their own countries. This is one of the few examples.

And the "politically correct" cliques are very keen to jump on the boat, this is very much the latest and greatest PC topic of concern.

In reality it's been established very clearly by gay Western people who live in Russia, that there is no actual issue - they are neither persecuted, nor ill-treated unless they make an absolute spectacle of themselves and/or reach out to minors.