Russian Police Raid Gay Nightclubs and Bars Following Anti-LGBTQ Court Ruling

Earlier this week, Russia’s highest court declared the “global LGBTQ+ movement” an extremist organization. Two days later, police in Moscow raided LGBTQ nightclubs and bars under the pretext of “drug raids.” This is just the latest attack on LGBTQ people under President Vladimir Putin (top photo), who has made “traditional family values” a central theme during his 2+ decades in power. https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1730936888968556956 From ABC News:

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.

Several LGBTQ+ venues have already closed following the decision, including St. Petersburg’s gay club Central Station. It wrote on social media Friday that the owner would no longer allow the bar to operate with the law in effect.

LGBTQ activists have pointed out that the ruling from the high court, in response to a lawsuit filed by the Justice Ministry, targets the LGBTQ “movement” and not a specific entity. The overly-broad language will allow authorities to go after any individual or group they deem part of such “movement.” https://twitter.com/PinkNews/status/1730997122021937275