Fifty-five percent identified as homosexual ( n = 741) and 42.9% identified as bisexual ( n = 578). Among 1367 MSM, 36.7% ( n = 505) qualified as probably depressed. We investigated the interactive effect of stigma and participation in the study after the passage of multiple “anti-gay propaganda laws” in Russian provinces, municipalities, and in neighboring Ukraine on depression among MSM. Multiple logistic regression models compared the relationship between sexual identity, recent stigma, and probable depression, defined as a score of ≥23 on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale. MSM living in Moscow City were recruited via respondent-driven sampling and participated in a cross-sectional survey from October 2010 to April 2013. Depression is a major public health problem in the Russian Federation and is particularly of concern for men who have sex with men (MSM).
