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Russia's Transgender People in Their Own Words

Lawmakers recently introduced legislation that will have profound implications for the country’s transgender population.

Madonna Says Russia Fined Her $1M for Gay Rights Speech

Russian courts denied that the ruling took place.

Moscow Transgender Activist ‘Faces Rape’ in Men’s Prison

Polina Simonenko was jailed after protesting a bill that would ban gay and transgender marriage and adoption in Russia.

'traditional' pivot

Russia Moves to Ban Gay Marriage

The move comes after voters approved constitutional changes defining marriage as a "union between a man and a woman."

Freedom of Expression

Russia Fines LGBT Аctivist for 'Gay Propaganda' Drawings

The case of Yulia Tsvetkova has prompted international condemnation and protests in Russia.

Putin Mocks U.S. Embassy Rainbow Flag

"Let them celebrate. They've shown a certain something about the people who work there," he said with a smile.

Russians Celebrate LGBT Pride in Front of U.S. Embassy's Rainbow Flag

Despite backlash against the flag among Russians, some Muscovites posed with it to show their support for gay rights.

U.S. Embassy in Moscow Flies Gay Pride Flag

The move comes as Russians vote on reforms that would enshrine heterosexual marriage in Russia's Constitution.

Russia ‘Accidentally’ Recognizes Gay Marriage

This is at least the second time officials have unintentionally recognized a gay marriage.

'prisoner of conscience'

LGBT Activist Charged With Pornography for Body-Positive Vagina Drawings

Yulia Tsvetkova faces up to six years in jail for the images on her social media page dedicated to body positivity.

STIFLED IDENTITIES

Quarantined With Family, Russia’s LGBT Youth Face New Struggles

In a country where negative attitudes toward the LGBT community are rife, young people are forced to stay with unaccepting relatives.

stranger than fiction

Russia ‘Ready’ for New Comedy on Gay Activists’ 1970s Soviet Visit, Producer Says

“It’s a conversation about intolerance to the ‘others’,” Oscar-nominated producer Alexander Rodnyansky said.

'welcome to chechnya'

HBO Airs Trailer for Oscar-Nominated Director's Chechnya Gay Purge Doc

The documentary uses groundbreaking face-swapping technology to protect the safety of its subjects.

1 in 5 Russians Advocate ‘Eliminating’ LGBT Community – Poll

Attitudes are more tolerant than five years ago.

Russia Lifts House Arrest of LGBT Activist Facing Pornography Charges

Yulia Tsvetkova was charged for posting drawings of vaginas on a body-positive social media page.

VAGINA MONOLOGUES

Russian LGBT Activist Faces Porn Trial for Vagina Drawings

Yulia Tsvetkova is waiting to stand trial for distributing pornography online, a charge which carries a jail term of between two and six years.

breaking barriers

Tatler Becomes First Russian Magazine to Feature Trans Woman on Cover

Tatler said it hoped Natalia Maximova’s interview “will give hope to those who need it.”

conservative code

Putin Proposes to Enshrine God, Heterosexual Marriage in Constitution

The new amendments also ban giving away Russian territory, a possible reference to Crimea.

Toned down milestone

Russia Censors Disney’s First Openly Gay Character From ‘Onward’

This is at least the third known censorship of a gay scene from a foreign film since Russia banned “homosexual propaganda” to minors.

anti-lgbt violence

Russian Jury Acquits Gay Man’s Murder Suspect

The knife attack was “most likely due to sexual orientation,” the victim's boyfriend who survived the attack said.

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