Multiple people have been fined for “looking too gay” due to their choice of outfits after a police raid on a Russian nightclub. In February 2024, eight people were arrested following a police raid on a nightclub in Tula, 120 miles south of Moscow.
Seven people were reportedly hit with charges for “trying to arouse interest in non-traditional sexual relations,” according to independent Russian media outlet Verstka.
These charges are usually raised at individuals publishing pro-LGBTQ+ material and not usually at people wearing what authorities consider to be “unmanly” clothing.
One person reportedly had “bright orange hair” with “red face tattoos” alongside “pink socks” and an unbuttoned kimono. Another was described as wearing a crop-top, black leather shorts and fishnet tights.
A total of eight people were detained, however, only seven received the fine. The eighth man was able to avoid the fine by arguing he was a goth; justifying his eyebrow piercings, turquoise-dyed hair and his black T-shirt that was reportedly rolled up to his chest.
According to Verstka not all of the court’s decisions have been made public, but the outlet has reported that two of the detainees received fines of £350 (50,000 roubles).
These arrests come after the Kremlin’s continued anti-LGBTQ+ crackdown to promote “traditional values” and “propaganda promoting a child-free lifestyle”.
Just last month, Andrei Kotov, a travel agent who was arrested for violating the ban on “LGBT propaganda” in Russia, was found dead in his cell in Moscow where he awaited trial for “extremism charges”.
You must be logged in to post a comment.