Russian gay clubs

Screenshot of the Russia Post article page.

Russian police raid Moscow nightclubs over 'LGBT propaganda'

Taken with permission from Russia Post. Historian Rustam Alexander discusses the rising homophobia in Russia, which has translated into increasingly frequent and brutal raids on Russian gay clubs, with clubgoers and employees sometimes charged with criminal offenses. The article was originally published by Russia Post on December 6, An edited version is republished by Global Voices with permission.

On November 30, Moscow police raided several Moscow gay clubs. These are not the first such raids. Weeks earlier, in late October, Russian police raided a night drag show in the Dark House bar in Yaroslavl. The performers were similarly taken to the police station and interrogated for possible involvement in extremist organizations and use of drugs.

Less than 48 hours after the decision was made, on December 2,Moscow police raided three Moscow gay clubsharassing customers and taking photos of their passports. Several months later, in Marchpolice raided another gay club, Pose, in Orenburga club miles southeast of Moscow. At the moment, the police have no right to russian homosexuals in any way.

Russian russian occasionally raided gay clubs, nevertheless, under the pretext of expired liquor licenses and allegations that their customers used drugs. Generally, after detention the customers would be released the same night, while club owners would receive a fine if their liquor licenses had indeed expired.

Despite the continuing raids on gay clubs — sometimes more frequent, sometimes less — there has been no Stonewall moment for Russian queer people. Though the sodomy law was repealed inhomophobic attitudes among many Russians continued to prevail. Surveys conducted by Levada Center indicate that they have been on the rise in recent years: 62 percent of Russians said they disagreed, gay or completely, that gays and lesbians should have the same rights as other citizens, versus 35 percent in and 40 percent in In this context, gay clubs offered safety and a sense of community.

Even before the war, Russian antigay vigilante groups used Grindr and other such apps to target, attack and even kill users, with Russian authorities offering no protection to the victims. In this context, the sense of community provided by gay clubs became even more significant.

Upon learning of the raid, she cancelled her appearance at the last minute. Post's coverage of it here. These days, the only celebrities likely to grace gay clubs with their club are figures like Zaza Napoliwho, unlike Buzova, is famous primarily among gay club audiences. Yet following his above mentioned detention at Zebra, Zaza Napoli is likely to be cautious too.

Some have even chosen to demonstrate their loyalty to Putin and his military aggression against Ukraine. Still, this show of loyalty failed gay shield Mono from becoming the first target of gay raids by police in December They should learn how to behave. There are still numerous gay clubs operating across Russia, and the police will not be able to shut them all down at once.