Russia: Putin's Kremlin targets LGBT in new crackdown

BBC News ^ | 1/22/2023 | Will Vernon

[rod5591]

"I'm the only monster drag queen in Russia," Danya proudly tells me as he applies ghostly-white make-up in front of a mirror. We're sitting in his kitchen, a rainbow flag adorning the wall.

The 22-year-old regularly performed at a queer club night in St Petersburg called Gender Blender. But the project has now cancelled its shows after a new anti-LGBT law was passed by the Russian Parliament in December. Danya's work has all but dried up.

"According to the law, it's forbidden to do what we're doing," Danya says. "We're a lot more anxious now. The risks are much higher."

The new law bans "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations" amongst all age groups. Anyone caught committing this "offence" could be fined up to 400,000 roubles ($5,840; £4,730), with much higher fines for organisations or journalists.

Since the law was passed, Danya has decided to leave Russia and move to France. He says that living in a country where it's illegal to "just be yourself" makes him feel afraid.

[rod5591]

Looks like Russia's new law is working already.

[escapefromboston]

Guess Russia isn’t all bad

[Navy Patriot]

Russia: Putin's Kremlin targets LGBT in new crackdown

[wildcard_redneck]

Good. They do not want to be under the boot of the alphabet people.

[McGruff]

Give him a one way ticket to Ukraine.

[Zuriel]

Barry Soetoro’s anger is greatly kindled.

[JonPreston]

[Jan_Sobieski]

I guess the Russians Love their Children more than We do! https://youtu.be/wHylQRVN2Qs

[SaxxonWoods]

Biden will be ready to nuke Putin now.

[PGR88]

Danya has decided to leave Russia and move to France. He says that living in a country where it's illegal to "just be yourself" makes him feel afraid.

Please follow up with this guy in 3 years, after he's experienced the Mideast and North African diversity of France as a gay man.

[PeterPrinciple]

Perversion is a behavior

Behavior modification can be done.

[rktman]

Paging meegun wrappinhoe. Where is the secret scissor signal in the sky? (Think Bat signal) ✂

[DesertRhino]

Couldn’t care less. Looks like they looked at our society and learned the lesson. And I recall Putin on several occasions practically begging America not to follow the descent in the madness that his country experienced in the 1920s.

[Liaison]

Off to the front lines with you!

[Golden Eagle]

The world is upside down, in many respects, these days.

[jacknhoo]

I see a lot of pickle-smoochers and their sympathizers worship the ground he walks on online.

[Williams]

That’s it I’m supporting the invasion of Ukraine.

Not.

[AnthonySoprano]

IS THIS WHY LINDSEY GRAHAM WANTS TO CUT SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS, BUT WANTS UNLIMITED FUNDS ON DEMAND - TO INSTALLED UKRAINE LEADERSHIP?

[Thrownatbirth]

It’s been essentially the same crackdown since 1917.

[JonPreston]

They are real sickos.