Russian security forces raided gay clubs and bars across Moscow Friday night, less than 48 hours after the country’s top court banned what it called the “global LGBTQ+ movement” as an extremist organization.
Police searched venues across the Russian capital, including a nightclub, a male sauna, and a bar that hosted LGBTQ+ parties, under the pretext of a drug raid, local media reported.
Eyewitnesses told journalists that clubgoers’ documents were checked and photographed by the security services. They also said that managers had been able to warn patrons before police arrived.
I honestly appreciate you sharing this. I read every word, and I agree that this is still obviously an imperfect system and there is a lot more work to be done. I sympathize with your struggle to find peace in your own body and mind, and I would never question your politics in that regard. I genuinely hope that you are able to transition and would personally support you if I could.
I want to make it clear that in no way do I consider the liberal status quo adequate, but I do see it as the best imperfect framework for progress we have at the moment. I also consider myself as more of a libertarian leftist/democratic socialist, but I strongly reject the idea that MLs are any ally to this cause in any way, and am far more sympathetic to liberal social justice ideals in comparison.
Again, I appreciate your attestation, and I wish you the best.
Honestly, it was very cathartic to write, so I appreciate your sympathy very much. Sometimes I just need to scream at the world, you know. So just reading my attestation is all the support you could give right now.
So I wish you the best as well. All animosity has dissipated. Take care of yourself and stay curious.