In Russia LGBTQ+ community resist Moscow’s repression
In Russia, the LGBTQ+ community is facing increasing repression, marked by a series of laws that have curtailed their rights and freedoms. A proposed ban on surgical and civil sex changes is currently under discussion in the Parliament, raising alarm among the trans community. The Centre-T in Saint-Petersburg, a prominent support organization for transgender individuals, is inundated with desperate pleas for help.
In July, Moscow enacted a law prohibiting sex change operations, invalidating marriages involving transgender individuals, and barring them from adopting children. This followed another bill that banned any positive or neutral representation of LGBTQ+ culture in public spaces, popular culture, and cinema.
Activists like Sof and Aleksei are choosing to stay in the country as long as possible to support those in despair, despite the risks. The new laws could potentially lead to a surge in suicides among the LGBTQ+ community, forcing many to seek refuge abroad. Read the full article