Putin sees gays as enemy
New anti-gay laws have further complicated the lives of Russian lhbtis. It is now illegal to disseminate information about ‘non-traditional sexual relations’. President Putin sees gays as an extension of the West, the enemy.
Correspondent Iris de Graaf speaks to a number of lhbtis in Moscow. Can they still express themselves, and do they still see a future for themselves in Russia?
Start video-news item:
The viewer sees a Russian young woman Polina: “My name is Polina. I am 22 years old. I have been openly lesbian since two years. But I have been openly queer for a long time.”
Voice over by Dutch NOS correspondent in Moscow, Iris de Graaf: “I meet Polina in the centre of Moscow. She grew up in a relatively free and tolerant Russia. Her surroundings, family and friends always supported her. But since the new anti-gay propaganda law, her life has been turned upside down.”
Russian young woman Polina Goerevitsj to Iris de Graaf: “Fair? I find it terrifying. Really very scary. It was the first news I saw when I woke up. I had to cry immediately. I just sat there, unable to stop crying. I immediately understood what this means for the future of Russia and for the queer community in Russia. I am not allowed to share anything with rainbow flags on my social media. I am not allowed to talk about my gender orientation. If I say something about the lgbti community, under no circumstances should it be something positive. The fines are not even the worst. The fact that lgbtis are now equal to pedophiles before the law, I think that is the worst of all. That because of my love for women, they put me in the same pigeonhole as fucking paedophiles. […] I try not to be afraid. Because if we don’t talk about this, if everyone stays silent, then everything will get worse.”
Dutch NOS correspondent in Moscow, Iris de Graaf: to the viewer: “The Russian queer community is becoming increasingly isolated. The new anti-gay laws are stigmatising. Many lgbti people lead double lives. Media and companies remove their lgbti content. Many queer friendly places, like here at this spot in Moscow, do not want to be associated with it for a while longer, fearing the consequences of this new law. […] Putin has profiled himself as a protector of sacred traditional Russian values for years. According to him, the West is waging a hybrid war against Russia in Ukraine. In doing so, the west would like to impose its depraved, liberal values on Russia to destroy the country from within. In that context, homosexuality has now become the symbol of the great enemy, the collective West.”
Dutch NOS correspondent in Moscow, Iris de Graaf: to the viewer: “The Orthodox Church also often uses homosexuality as a reason to legitimise the so-called holy war.”
Voice over of the Russian President State Duma, Vjatsjeslav Volodin: “This law is our answer to US minister Blinken. Stop imposing your values. Let them live with you, but not with us.”
Voice over of the Russian Patriarch Kirill: “Resistance prevails in the Donbas. Fundamentally repugnant values rule there. It is very simple. I am talking about those terrible ‘gay parades’.”
The viewer sees Vladimir Komov: “I can say that the office where you are now is probably the last active lgtbi office in all of Moscow.”
Dutch NOS correspondent in Moscow, Iris de Graaf: to the viewer: “Vladimir Komov is founder of the Russian human rights organisation group Delo LGBT+. One of the few lawyers left in Russia, he assists the queer community in lawsuits under the anti-gay propaganda law.”
Vladimir Komov to Iris de Graaf: “Not all lgbti people can emigrate directly from Russia. Someone has to help them here. There are so many things that cannot be postponed.”
Dutch NOS correspondent in Moscow, Iris de Graaf: to the viewer: “Vladimir Komov sees a clear link between the new law and the so-called “special operation” in Ukraine.”
Vladimir Komov to Iris de Graaf: “Lgbti people are daily lumped together with Satanism, with fascism, with the Ukraine authorities. This is worrying. with this, the Russian authorities are trying to create an enemy. This is worrying. With this, the Russian authorities are trying to create an enemy that people can direct their anger at for the failures at the front and the increasingly poor standard of living.
Dutch NOS correspondent in Moscow, Iris de Graaf: to the viewer: “22-year-old trans man Robert is embroiled in a case under the new legislation. He calls the situation hopeless.”
Robert to Iris de Graaf: “Since the war, we have no plans for the future. Even those living far away from the front. With this new anti-gay law, we don’t know what next week looks like at all. This is even worse than those punishments. That you don’t know what terrible thing is going to happen tomorrow.”
Dutch NOS correspondent in Moscow, Iris de Graaf: to the viewer: “Lawyer and trans woman Anna Maria has also remained in Russia to assist her community with legal advice. But she has no hope.”
Anna Maria to Iris de Graaf: “Things are only getting worse. Regardless of how this war ends for Russia. The regime will remain authoritarian.”
Dutch NOS correspondent in Moscow, Iris de Graaf to Anna Maria: ” Will it ever get better?”
Anna Maria to Iris de Graaf: “When I am dead.”
Dutch NOS correspondent in Moscow, Iris de Graaf: to the viewer: “Over the years, there have been protests across Russia against increasingly harsh anti-gay laws. But this was put to a hard stop by riot police. The protests have since died out.”
Russian young woman Polina Goerevitsj to Iris de Graaf: “I have often protested and seen the terrible things happening. Women are knocked down and dragged by their hair. They are simply tortured in the square. So of course everyone is scared now. Posts on social media. Sharing things, and expressing your opinion there, that is now the main, if not only, form of protest for us.”
Dutch NOS correspondent in Moscow, Iris de Graaf: to Polina: “Are you also going to speak out less now?”
Russian young woman Polina Goerevitsj to Iris de Graaf: “No, I’m not going to stop doing anything. They can’t put everyone in jail anyway. By speaking out, I let people know: don’t give up. We exist. We are still here and we have to support each other.”
Transcript by Cora Westerink (1965) 11 January 2023.
