LGBTQ+ life: the extent of repression in Russia today

The situation can be seen as a culture war, in which people's attitudes to LGBTQ+ people are being co-opted by groups on both sides of the political spectrum, while stopping short of criminalization of LGBTQ+ people. Paul Rice and his partner Liam travelled across Russia on the Trans-Siberian railway, making contact with LGBTQ+ groups along the route. Despite his lack of filmmaking experience, and their need to appear as innocent tourists, they achieved a remarkable documentary ,'A Worm in the Heart'; which reveals the extent of repression in Russia today.

Prior to the 17th Century Russia was regarded as a relatively tolerant place in comparison to Western Europe, and despite the introduction of laws mostly related to the armed forces, serious repression during Communist times only began under Stalin in 1933. These laws were later repealed, and Yeltsin supported sexual freedom, as did Putin in a 2007 speech. There were Gay Pride events in 2006 and later, but under pressure from the religious right the Gay Propaganda Law (GPL) was passed in 2013 by a majority of 488:1. The law does not criminalize gays but prohibits public displays of affection, and since this time violence against the LGBTQ+ community has greatly increased, affecting Transgender people and youth most of all.

As has Mark Gevisser explained recently, the situation can be seen as a culture war, in which people's attitudes to LGBTQ+ people are being co-opted by groups on both sides of the political spectrum, while stopping short of criminalization of LGBTQ+ people. Thus, in Russia, Poland and Hungary, the oppressive narrative claims that recognizing LGBTQ+ rights was another surrender to the spread of 'Western' values.

In the Netherlands the game was played another way, by saying that LGBTQ+ rights must be maintained to hold back the tide of repressive Islam and immigration in general.

Paul Rice answered questions from The Prisma about his extraordinary film 'A Worm in the Heart", by email, due to Covid-19 restrictions which also meant that the Visions du Reel festival was held online this year.

The full interview with links and images can be accessed on The Prisma Multicultural Newspaper site here:

https://theprisma.co.uk/2023/07/17/lgbtq-life-and-the-extent-of-repression-in-russia-today/