In Putin’s Russia, the LGBTQ+ community is grappling with a crackdown that has turned lives into a daily battle for survival. The climate of fear has only worsened since the Kremlin designated the LGBTQ+ movement as “extremist” in November 2023, effectively criminalizing any form of activism.
This decision coincided with a broader state-driven narrative tying LGBTQ+ rights to Western influence and alleged moral degradation. In his justification for these measures, President Vladimir Putin portrayed LGBTQ+ advocacy as an existential threat to Russia’s “traditional family values,” a claim amplified in the context of the war in Ukraine.
“Today, the LGBTQ+ community in Russia must decide what is worth risking six years in prison for,” said Olga Baranova, an activist now operating from abroad. Baranova’s organization, once a vibrant community hub in Moscow, has been forced to retreat into the anonymity of online spaces to protect its members.
Escalation of Repression
The repercussions of these laws are widespread and brutal. Police raids on nightclubs and LGBTQ-friendly venues have become routine, targeting not only patrons but also venue owners and employees. Displays of solidarity, such as the rainbow flag, are now criminalized, and arrests for alleged LGBTQ+ “propaganda” are growing.
Human rights lawyer Max Olenichev described the atmosphere as one of state-sponsored terror. “This isn’t repression—it’s terror,” he said, referencing the increasing weaponization of the law to silence dissent.
In one of the most harrowing cases, a travel agency catering to gay clients was shut down, and its owner reported beatings and electric shocks during his arrest.
A Community Forced Underground
While some have fled, others remain, determined to resist the erasure of their identities. Transgender individuals face particularly dire challenges, as access to medical care is restricted and violence against them rises.
Anna, a transgender woman in Moscow, recounted her journey of transitioning despite the risks. “I haven’t come out to colleagues, fearing job loss, but I’ve built a life here that I can’t abandon,” she said. For others like Julia, remaining visible within Russia is an act of defiance: “I want to show that people like me are not weak or useless.”
An Uncertain Future
The long-term effects of Russia’s anti-LGBTQ+ stance are deeply troubling. Activists fear for the next generation, raised in a society where queerness is systematically vilified. For Gela Gogishvili, a gay man who fled to France, the thought of children growing up under such conditions is haunting.
“I couldn’t accept myself until I was 20,” he said. “Now, an entire generation is being taught that being queer is wrong from the moment they’re born.”
As the international community watches, the question remains: How much longer can the LGBTQ+ community in Russia endure this oppressive regime?