Russian authorities go after LGBTQ group for 'endangering national security' | DW News

Key Concepts:

• Transgender rights in Russia
• LGBTQ+ persecution in Russia
• "Gay propaganda law"
• Transgender Foundation (Russia)
• Exile of LGBTQ+ activists
• Kremlin's ideology and the "internal/external enemy"
• Impact of the war in Ukraine on LGBTQ+ rights
• Transgender rights in the US
• Extremism laws in Russia

The Banning of the Transgender Foundation in Russia

• The Transgender Foundation, a long-standing organization that supported trans people in Russia, has been banned by Russian authorities, who claim it poses a threat to national security.
• Founded in 2012 by Yale and Andre, the foundation provided support to nearly a thousand trans people in Russia. It was considered one of the largest and most important LGBTQ+ institutions in the country.
• The foundation started with support groups, which were very popular, attracting people from as far as Pakistan.
• The closure was ordered at the end of January of the current year.

Escalating Persecution of LGBTQ+ Individuals in Russia

• The banning of the Transgender Foundation is part of a broader crackdown on the LGBTQ+ community in Russia, which began with the passage of the "gay propaganda law" in 2013.
• Since then, the authorities have been taking increasingly radical action against queer people and those who help them.
• Queer activists are now classified as extremists, and any action, such as a boy dyeing his hair or a girl cutting her hair short, can be interpreted as participation in extremist activities.

The Kremlin's Ideology and the LGBTQ+ Community

• Igor Kochetkov, a former LGBTQ+ rights activist in Russia now living in exile, believes the ban of the Transgender Foundation aligns with the Kremlin's fight against Western ideology.
• The Kremlin is trying to create a new state ideology that requires an "internal enemy" and an "external enemy," for which LGBTQ+ people are ideally suited.
• This is directly related to the war in Ukraine, serving as a justification for the conflict with the West, portraying Russia as morally superior.
• Quote: "They're trying to create a new state ideology which first of all must contain an image of the internal enemy and an image of the external enemy so that it would be clear who we're fighting against. LGBTQ plus people are ideally suited for this." - Igor Kochetkov

Exile and Continued Activism

• Yale and Andre, the founders of the Transgender Foundation, were forced to flee Russia in 2017 and now live in exile in New York.
• They are now helping trans people flee from Russia to the United States.
• Despite the pain of losing their work, they remain committed to fighting for the rights of trans people.
• Quote: "Of course it's painful even when you've seen it coming for years it still hurts because it's the result of so much work and more than anything it's about the people." - Yale

Concerns about Transgender Rights in the US

• With the potential return of Donald Trump to power, there are growing concerns about the safety of trans people in the US.
• Trump is trying to restrict the rights of trans people in sports and the military.
• Russian-speaking people are experiencing a sense of déjà vu, projecting their experiences in Russia onto the situation in the US.
• Yale and Andre are now fighting for the rights of trans people in the US to prevent the situation from deteriorating as it did in Russia.

Synthesis/Conclusion:

The video highlights the escalating persecution of the LGBTQ+ community in Russia, exemplified by the banning of the Transgender Foundation. This is framed within the context of the Kremlin's ideological battle against the West and its use of LGBTQ+ individuals as an "internal enemy." The founders of the foundation, now in exile, continue their activism, but concerns are raised about the future of transgender rights in the US, drawing parallels with the situation in Russia. The main takeaway is the interconnectedness of LGBTQ+ rights globally and the need for continued advocacy in the face of rising authoritarianism and discriminatory policies.