The Documentary Podcast The Fifth Floor: Russia's crackdown on gay clubs
Jan 25, 2025
Anastasia Golubeva, a BBC Russian journalist, reveals the chilling intensification of anti-LGBTQ+ crackdowns in Russia, sharing harrowing personal accounts from activists facing police raids on gay clubs. Dorcas Wangira, BBC Africa's health correspondent, reflects on the pandemic's far-reaching effects in Africa, exploring economic struggles and psychological scars that persist post-COVID-19. Both guests provide insightful commentary on the resilience and challenges of marginalized communities amidst evolving societal landscapes.
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Yaroslavl Halloween Raid
- On Halloween night, police raided a gay club in Yaroslavl, Russia, arresting drag queens like Kirill.
- Kirill, left with no money or phone, had to walk home in his drag attire after questioning.
Crackdown and Ukraine Invasion
- Russia's crackdown on LGBTQ+ clubs intensified after the 2023 Supreme Court ban on the "global LGBT movement".
- This crackdown is linked to the Ukraine invasion, with the government targeting the LGBTQ+ community as "traitors" and threats to traditional values.
Western vs. Russian Values
- The Russian government frames the LGBTQ+ community as influenced by Western values, contrasting them with a "good Russian man" ideal.
- This rhetoric labels anything outside traditional norms as foreign and unhealthy, further marginalizing the community.