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Russia

News from within the borders of Russia and the fight for LGBT equality there. The country's president, Vladimir Putin, ignited an international firestorm in the summer after signing the so-called gay propaganda law, which prohibits positive depictions of LGBT people in the Russian media. Russia is a country in southern Eurasia. It is also the world's largest country, although it ranks eighth most populous. Russia has a rich cultural heritage, and has contributed such figures as Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Anton Chekhov, Anna Pavlova, and Igor Stravinsky.
tweet Andrei Kotov is handcuffed and led out of the courtroom as filmed by several journalists as well as prosecutor Shcherbakova on her phone Video by Mediazona
News

Man arrested under Russia's 'international LGBT extremism' law dies in custody

Andrei Kotov ran a travel agency that reportedly catered to gay men.

Britney Griner team USA olymic basketball celebrating US President Joe Biden successful prisoner exchange involving seven countries
News

Brittney Griner, former Russian captive and current Olympian, celebrates historic prisoner swap

The WNBA star in Paris for the Olympics issued a joyful statement after news of the exchange spread.
Putin Russia LGBTQ Protest Sign Rainbow Flag
World

Russian Parents Are Kidnapping Their LGBTQ+ Children and Sending Them to Conversion Therapy Camps

Survivors are speaking out about their horrifying ordeals.

Russian President Vladimir Putin
News

Russia’s LGBTQ+ Community Fears Expected ‘Extremist’ Label in Court Ruling

Will Putin use a kangaroo court ruling to institute a crackdown and mass arrests?

New Report Claims Chechen Leader Kadyrov Ordered Killing of Gay Singer
News

Gay Chechen Singer Killed on Order of Strongman Ramzan Kadyrov: Report

The Putin ally was reportedly insulted he shook hands with a gay man.

Russia Targets LGBTQ+ Community with Mental Health Directive
News

Russia Targets LGBTQ+ Community with Mental Health Directive

Putin directs sexologists to treat homosexuality the same as bestiality.

russian person looking at iphone on a roof in moscow during sunset
Business

Apple fined by Russian court for extremist 'LGBT content'

This is not the first time Apple has run afoul of Russian authorities for refusing to censor content under Putin.
Russian police raid clubs in crackdown on LGBTQ+ 'propaganda,' make arrests
News

Russian police raid clubs in crackdown on LGBTQ+ 'propaganda,' make arrests

About a dozen people were arrested and convicted of "petty hooliganism."

Brittney Griner
News

Brittney Griner reveals she considered suicide while in Russian captivity

The WNBA legend opened up to Robin Roberts about the hopelessness she felt under the conditions she had to endure.

Duolingo Russia Lesson Rainbow Gay Putin Propaganda Protest
News

Duolingo faces investigation in Russia over LGBTQ+ content

Russia’s media watchdog scrutinized the language app for alleged ‘LGBT propaganda.’ Really.

Putin Russia Against LGBT
News

Russia Announces Chilling Move to Label 'International Public LGBT Movement' as 'Extremist'

The move is a further escalation of attacks on the LGBTQ+ community in Russia under President Vladimir Putin.

Yandex CEO Charged Under Russia’s Anti-LGBTQ+ “Propaganda” Laws
Business

Yandex CEO Charged Under Russia’s Anti-LGBTQ+ “Propaganda” Laws

The company had earlier been fined for not restricting access to films like Brigit Jones’ Diary.

Gay TikTok Couple Arrest Under Anti-LGBTQ+ Law
Russia

Gay TikTok Couple Arrest Under Anti-LGBTQ+ Law

One man says he is "scared" for his boyfriend who remains in jail.

budapest gray march ironic counter protest LGBTQIA pride banned
World

Hungary passes constitutional amendment banning public LGBTQ+ events

The law also allows the government to use facial recognition technology to identify those who attend prohibited events

Daria Kasatkina WTA Qatar TotalEnergies Open 2025 tennis tournament
News

Out lesbian tennis star Daria Kasatkina flees Russia for Australia: 'I want to be myself'

Daria Kasatkina will be representing her "new homeland" from now on.

Demonstration against Russia sign Stop Putin happy transgender family LGBTQIA Pride festival
News

Russian parliament seeks to ban ‘childfree propaganda’ and adoption by foreign trans families in latest moves

The two bills are the latest in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attacks on the LGBTQ+ community.

Russian police moscow Red square St Basils Cathedral my little pony dolls President Vladimir Putin pointing
News

Police raid ‘My Little Pony’ gathering and a gay night at a local club in Russia

Police reportedly arrested nine of the “most feminine-looking” men at the gay night raid.

Jennifer Coolidge Emmy Award Winner Thanks All The Evil Gays
People

Watch Jennifer Coolidge thank 'all the evil gays' in hilarious Emmys acceptance speech

Coolidge referenced her iconic scene in The White Lotus season two in her Emmys acceptance speech for best supporting actress in a drama series.

LGBTQ Activism Russia Putin Gay Clown Sign
News

Russia Outlaws LGBTQ+ Rights Activism and Labels Organizations 'Extremist'

The move effectively eliminates LGBTQ+ support networks and signals a larger crackdown on the country's already vulnerable queer community.

Vladimir Putin Aleksandra Skochilenko Russia
News

Lesbian Artist Faces 8 Years in Russian Prison For Criticizing Putin, Military

Alexandra Skochilenko switched out price tags with anti-war messages in a supermarket protest last year.