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Explore stories featuring our work.

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May 2, 2026

Uncloseted Media

Under New Extremism Laws, LGBTQ Russians Must Fight to Survive

With U.S. intelligence agencies gearing up to target LGBTQ activism, Russia’s designation of the “international LGBT movement” as extremist shows a blueprint for what might be coming.

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Jun 17, 2025

CBS NEWS

Nonprofit Qaravan is helping LGBTQ immigrants fleeing persecution and war

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May 12, 2025

Gay City News

‘No Hate, No Fear’: Qaravan hosts ninth annual Brighton Beach Pride

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May 12, 2025

USA Stayed Forever YouTube Channel

Брайтон-Бич прайд в поддержку трансгендерных иммигрантов – больше, чем гей-парад

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May 10, 2025

NY1 Spectrum News

Brighton Beach Pride Party fights for transgender immigrants

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May 9, 2025

Resisting Project 2025

Facing “double exile,” queer and other political asylees in US call for transnational solidarity.

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Apr 24, 2025

Brooklyn Paper

‘It’s not a party’: Brighton Beach Pride embraces themes of resistance ahead of May 10 parade

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Apr 23, 2025

Gay City News

Same leaders, new look: Brighton Beach Pride set for May 10

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Jul 12, 2024

The City

They Fled War in Ukraine to Make a Home in New York. Now, They Fear a Trump Presidency

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Jul 1, 2024

USA Stayed Forever YouTube Channel

NYC Pride March: Помянем Путина

NYC Pride March: Farewell to Putin

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Jun 30, 2024

RTVI Russian-speaking TV Channel in NYC

В Нью-Йорке Прошел Парад Гордости

Pride Parade Held In New York

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Jun 30, 2024

Gay City News.

War, rain, and rainbows at New York City Pride

At times it was the weather and at times it was war. These two circumstances came to the forefront during Heritage of Pride’s (HOP) NYC Pride March, which had a theme of “Reflect. Empower. Unite.”

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Jun 27, 2024

WES Mariam Assefa Fund: Insights

Empowered to Lead: Meet Enver Latifzade, LGBTQ+ Refugee and Community Leader

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Jun 26, 2024

WIRED

The Secret Telegram Channels Providing Refuge for LGBTQ+ People in Russia

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May 20, 2024

Voice of America

19 мая состоялся 8-й Ежегодный гей-прайд-парад на Брайтон-Бич под лозунгом «Наша любовь не экстремизм»

On May 19, the 8th Annual gay pride march on Brighton Beach under the slogan "Our Love is not Extremism"

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May 19, 2024

Gay City News

Eighth annual Brighton Beach Pride March takes over southern Brooklyn

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May 16, 2024

Big Issue

'We are here and we exist': Inside the neighbourhood offering sanctuary to queer Russians and Ukrainians

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Mar 5, 2024

DW in Russian

Трамп или Байден: За Кого Проголосует Русскоязычный Боайтон-Бич

Trump or Biden: Who the Russian Speaking Brighton Beach Will Vote For

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Feb 15, 2024

Gay City News

NYPD competed with anti-LGBTQ Chechen authorities in Dubai

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Dec 15, 2023

TheBody

These Are the Effects of Russia’s Crackdown on LGBTQ Existence

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Nov 30, 2023

Daily Express USA

Desperate Russians beg 'overwhelmed' US charity to relocate as Moscow bans LGBT movement

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Nov 30, 2023

Gay City News

RUSA LGBTQ+ blasts Russian Supreme Court ruling outlawing ‘LGBTQ movement’

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Nov 23, 2023

Voice of America

Любой ЛГБТ-человек может стать потенциальным преступником»: чем грозит признание «ЛГБТ-движения» экстремистским?

"Any LGBT person can become a potential criminal": what are the risks of recognizing the "LGBT movement" as extremist?

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Sep 25, 2023

RTVI NYC-based Russian-language TV station

Закон о защите дрэг-артистов

A law to protect drag performers

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Aug 2, 2023

Documented

Russia Drove LGBTQ+ People Underground. This DJ Fled and Found Community in NYC.

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Jun 27, 2023

RTVI NYC-based Russian-language TV

Европа готовит визы для США, аномальная жара в Нью-Йорке, (третий гендер в школах)

NYC School system introduces Third Gender Category

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Jun 23, 2023

Bureau

Дебаты с Членом Ассамблеи Аликом Бруком-Красным

Live Debate with New York State Republican Senator Alec Brook-Krasny on Pride Month

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Jun 17, 2023

RIA Novosti Russian state-owned agency

Russian Gays in US Call for Boycott of Sochi Games

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Jun 12, 2023

Newsweek

Republicans Accused of Echoing 'Putin's Playbook' With Anti-LGBTQ+ Campaign

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Jun 10, 2023

RTVI NYC-based Russian-language TV

Белый Дом пытается принять закон о защите ЛГБТК+

The White House tries to pass a law to protect LGBTQ+

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May 22, 2023

Bureau

Гей-прайд на Брайтоне: как русскоязычные жители Нью-Йорка реагируют на ЛГБТ-марш

Gay Pride on Brighton: how Russian-speaking residents of New York react to the LGBT March

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May 22, 2023

Gay City News

Brighton Beach Pride spotlights LGBTQ rights, war, immigration, and democracy

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May 21, 2023

XAVE Travels

Brighton Beach Pride 2023 Livestream

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May 15, 2023

The Guardian

‘This is not a small issue’: the devastating plight of LGBTQ asylum seekers

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May 13, 2023

The Good Men Project

Queer Russian Immigrants Struggle to Escape Homophobic Discrimination

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May 9, 2023

Gay City News

Trans Brooklynite endures frustrating quest for accountability in Coney Island

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Apr 19, 2023

Columbia News Service

Queer Russian Immigrants Struggle to Escape Homophobic Discrimination

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Mar 23, 2023

Gay City News

RUSA LGBTQ+ to host seventh annual Brighton Beach Pride in May

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Jun 27, 2022

News12

'We are a community of immigrants' – Russian-speaking LGBTQ+ group wants to help refugees in NYC

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May 23, 2022

Brooklyn Magazine

Scenes From Sunday’s Brighton Beach Pride Parade

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May 22, 2022

Gay City News

Brighton Beach Pride March honors Ukrainian resistance

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May 20, 2022

Pix11

Brighton Beach Pride March calls for end of war: ‘Free Ukraine equals Free World’

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Mar 20, 2022

Gay City News

RUSA LGBTQ+ Marches for Ukraine in Brighton Beach

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Mar 20, 2022

Brooklyn Magazine

‘Putin! Asshole!’ Scenes From a Pro-Ukraine March from Coney Island to Brighton Beach

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Mar 11, 2022

The Guardian

Russian flags come down in New York’s Little Odessa: ‘Putin has turned it into a fascist symbol’

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Feb 28, 2022

Los Angeles Blade

LGBTQ Ukrainians band together in the face of war

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Feb 28, 2022

Brooklyn Paper

Brighton Beach rallies for Ukraine as Russian invasion pushes on

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Nov 4, 2021

Gay City News

Presenting the 2021 Gay City News Impact Award Honorees (LYOSHA GORSHKOV)

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Aug 6, 2021

Journal of LGBTQ Issues in Counseling

Lived Experiences of Recent Russian-Speaking LGBT+ Immigrants in the United States: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis

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Jun 9, 2021

Brooklyn Paper

Brighton Beach Pride returns to Riegelmann Boardwalk

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Jun 2, 2021

News 12

Russian community celebrates start of Pride Month with march at Brighton Beach

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May 19, 2021

Gay City News

Local Pride Organizers Announce Virtual and In-Person Events

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Feb 10, 2021

Them

LGBTQ+ Activists Want Biden, Pelosi to Denounce Arrest of Gay Chechen Men in Russia

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Jan 27, 2021

Michigan University

CREES Noon Lecture. Being Queer in Russia: A Conversation about Challenges Facing Russia’s LGBTQ+ Movement

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Jun 22, 2020

Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Pride Month isn’t the focus for LGBTQ Jews this year

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Jun 2, 2020

Gay City News

RUSA LGBT Leads Virtual Brighton Beach Pride on YouTube Live

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May 28, 2020

Gay City News

RUSA LGBT Plans Virtual Brighton Beach “Pride Without Borders”

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Jan 31, 2020

Harriman Institute of Columbia University

The Politics of Anti-LGBTQ Propaganda in Russia and Ukraine

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Sep 13, 2019

Hamilton Lugar School News

From Russia with Pride: Queer Russian politics takes center stage at HLS

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Feb 13, 2019

Advocate

Ten Exiled LGBTQ Activists Speak

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Jan 29, 2019

Paper Magazine

Russian Official Threatens LGBTQ Leader: 'Go Back to Where You Belong'

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Jan 17, 2019

Out

Queers in Chechnya Are Under Attack Again. Here’s What We Know

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Jan 14, 2019

NPR

Activists Say 40 Detained And 2 Dead In Gay Purge In Chechnya

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Jan 8, 2019

Gay City News

Brooklyn Councilmember’s Quiet Anti-LGBTQ Crusade

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Dec 26, 2018

Eurasianet

New York’s post-Soviet gay community discusses imported homophobia

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Nov 28, 2018

Guac Magazine

Brighton Beach, Brooklyn: “невидимый: A Home for Whom?”

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Nov 19, 2018

Eurasianet Video

ЛГБТ и второй Брайтон Бич Прайд

LGBT and the second Brighton Beach Pride

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Aug 10, 2018

Gay Times

Demonstration held in NYC to mark one year since Zelim Bakaev went missing in Chechnya

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Aug 9, 2018

The Pink News

Gay singer Zelim Bakaev went missing a year ago in Chechnya—what happened to him remains a mystery

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Jul 18, 2018

Them

Trump's Friendship With Putin Is Terrifying for LGBTQ+ Americans

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Jun 25, 2018

W Magazine

Meet the Rainbow of Activists Who Marched at the NYC Pride Parade

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Jun 8, 2018

Vox

This World Cup, let’s talk about Russia’s LGBTIQ rights record

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Jun 8, 2018

Eurasianet

Russian-speaking LGBT activists paint a rainbow in New York Hostility follows many Russian-speaking LGBT asylum seekers to New York.

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Jun 7, 2018

HuffPost

LGBTQ Russians Are Fleeing To NYC, But They Still Face Hostility

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Jun 1, 2018

Bklyner

Celebrate LGBTQ Pride 2018 In Brooklyn

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May 3, 2018

Voice of America

Russian Asylum Applications In US Hit 24-Year Record

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May 2, 2018

Eurasianet

Russian drag queens put a queer spin on songs from the Motherland

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Feb 14, 2018

Out.com

Voices4 & RUSA LGBT Braved the Rain For a Big, Queer 'Kiss-In' Protest

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Feb 12, 2018

Huck Mag

New Yorkers protest homophobia by kissing in the rain

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Feb 12, 2018

Dazed

Intimate photos of a queer New York kiss-in

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Feb 11, 2018

Logo TV

NYC "Kiss-In" Protests Anti-LGBT Violence in Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Tajikistan

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Feb 6, 2018

Out.com

Bring Your Lip Gloss to Voices4 and RUSA LGBT's 'Kiss-in' Protest on Sunday

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Feb 1, 2018

The Newsweek

Trump Endangers the American Dream for Gay Immigrants

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Dec 7, 2017

Them

Thanks to Trump, Queer Russian Refugees Are in More Danger Than Ever

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Nov 9, 2017

NBC News

Chechen Pop Singer Feared Kidnapped, Victim of 'Anti-Gay Purge'

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Oct 17, 2017

Vice

A March for Chechnya This Weekend Rallied All of Gay Instagram

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Sep 27, 2017

HuffPost

‘Voices 4 Chechnya’ Speaks Out On Giving Voices To LGBTQ+ Chechens

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Aug 31, 2017

Rolling Stone

Masha Gessen: A Russian’s Perspective on Trump’s Autocratic Impulses

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Jul 12, 2017

Daily Beast

Ukrainian LGBT Leader, Taras Karasiichuk, Seeks U.S. Asylum

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Jun 27, 2017

Awl

The politics of Pride in Brighton Beach

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Jun 24, 2017

Vice Media

GAYCATION's Ian Daniel Discusses Chechnya's LGBT Crisis

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Jun 19, 2017

Lilith

On the Muslim-Jewish Solidarity Trail

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Jun 16, 2017

Eurasianet

Russian-Speaking LGBT Community Shows Pride

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May 25, 2017

Gay City News

LGBTQ Russians, Allies Liberate Brighton Beach

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May 24, 2017

Bklyner

Activist Lyosha Gorshkov On Brighton Beach Pride Parade & RUSA LGBT

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May 23, 2017

Gothamist

LGBTQ Russian Immigrants Give Brighton Beach Its First Pride Parade

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May 22, 2017

Advocate

NYT: Gay Russians Face Discrimination in Brooklyn

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May 22, 2017

Daily Beast

First Ever Russian-Speaking Pride March in NYC

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May 22, 2017

Tablet

‘Make Birobidzhan Gay Again’ Dispatch from the inaugural Brighton Beach Pride Parade in south Brooklyn

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May 22, 2017

Voice of America

Гей-парад на Брайтон-бич

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May 21, 2017

The New York Times

After Fleeing Bias at Home, Gay Russians Say It Persists in Brooklyn

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May 20, 2017

Mic

New York's Russian LGBTQ community holds first-of-its-kind pride march in Brooklyn

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May 17, 2017

Advocate

Only Greater Political Will Can Save Gay Chechens

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May 11, 2017

Vice

What It's Like Being a Gay Russian Asylum Seeker in America

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May 1, 2017

Salon

From Russia with hate: How Putin’s anti-LGBT crackdown led to the persecution of gay men in Chechnya

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Apr 21, 2017

HuffPost

Gay Chechen Men Share Personal Accounts Of Abuse In This Harrowing Video

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Feb 13, 2017

Gay Times

Voices4 stage New York City queer kiss-in to stop anti-LGBTQ purges

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Sep 24, 2016

Reveal

Russia’s new scapegoats

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Jun 15, 2016

Forum Daily

Russian-speaking gays and lesbians start life from scratch in New York

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Feb 3, 2016

The Nation

Transgender Russians Struggle to Take Their Movement Out of the Shadows

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Jul 31, 2015

Kyiv Post

Ukrainian gay couple marry in New York, plans to fight for equal rights at home

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Jul 22, 2015

The New York Times

A Public Vow of Love, Doubling as an Act of Defiance

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Jun 30, 2015

The New Yorker

A Weekend of Russian Pride

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May 23, 2015

Marketing the rainbow

Case study: IKEA

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Jul 16, 2014

Human Rights First

Russia’s LGBT Community One Year Later: Q&A with Vladislav Slavskiy

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Jun 29, 2014

Al Jazeera

Gay pride parade hits happy, bittersweet notes in New York

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Jun 10, 2014

Buzzfeed

This Gay Russian Couple Is Helping Other LGBT Immigrants Find Their Way In New York

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Feb 19, 2014

Mic

Gay Russian Artist Says He Won't Let Being Exiled Stop Him From Fighting Putin

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Feb 19, 2014

The Nation

Sochi 2014: Where Pussy Riot Gets Whipped by Cossacks

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Feb 18, 2014

Campaign

Marketing and the LGBT community: when will it be normal to have gay couples in campaigns?

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Feb 18, 2014

USA Today

Pussy Riot band members released after being detained in Sochi

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Feb 14, 2014

The Moscow Times

Rodnina's Daughter Nominated For LGBT Award

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Feb 7, 2014

The New Yorker

“Gay Propaganda”: Oleg Dusaev and Dmitriy Stepanov

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Feb 6, 2014

Tablet

How Yelena Goltsman Ended Up on the Front Lines in the Battle To Boycott the Olympics

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Feb 3, 2014

Daily News

Russian expat says country’s anti-gay laws go against Olympic spirit, plans to protest Sochi Games

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Jan 17, 2014

Windy City Times

IKEA adds pro-LGBT wording to online magazine in Russia. From a RUSA LGBT press release

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Jan 14, 2014

The Mercury

LGBT activists give 45,000 signatures to IKEA U.S. Headquarters in Conshohocken

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Jan 11, 2014

HuffPost

The Heartbreaking Story of Two Gay Men Who Were Forced to Flee Russia

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Dec 31, 2013

Al Jazeera

Fleeing anti-gay law, Russians head to New York for New Year's Eve

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Dec 31, 2013

Radio Free Europe/ Radio Freedom

From The U.S. To Russia, 2013 Was The Year LGBT Rights Went Global

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Dec 3, 2013

Buzzfeed

Johnny Weir Calls LGBT Protesters Picketing His Speaking Event "Idiots," Apologizes

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Nov 25, 2013

HuffPost

Ikea Store In Brooklyn, N.Y. Hit With Gay Protest After Company Nixes Lesbian Magazine Article

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Nov 25, 2013

Buzzfeed

LGBT Activists Stage Kiss-In At Brooklyn Ikea To Protest Store's Lesbian Scandal In Russia

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Oct 11, 2013

The Guardian

Kudos to the Nobel peace prize winner, but it's another snub for LGBT activists

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Sep 23, 2013

Buzzfeed

New York's Metropolitan Opera Season Opens With Gay Protest

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Sep 4, 2013

Buzzfeed

"Love Always Wins": Hundreds Of New Yorkers Gather To Support Russia's LGBT Community

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Sep 2, 2013

Forward

Yelena Goltsman Pushes for Gay Rights Boycott of Russia’s Olympics

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Aug 29, 2013

The Georgia Straight

LGBT activists dump Coca-Cola to protest Russia's antigay laws

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Aug 16, 2013

The Georgia Voice

Russia’s iron closet

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Aug 3, 2013

Salon

Gay rights activists' misguided Stoli boycott

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Aug 1, 2013

United Press International

Gay-rights activists pour out vodka in front of Russian consulate

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Aug 1, 2013

The Moscow Times

Gay Rights Activists Dump Vodka Outside Russian Consulate in NY

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Jul 31, 2013

Gay City News

Owner, Bartenders from Boxers Bars Dump Stoli in the Gutter

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Jul 31, 2013

Queer Nation NY

Queer Nation / RUSA LGBT Protest at the Russian Consulate in NYC

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Jul 31, 2013

Buzzfeed

Protesters Dump Vodka In Front Of Russian Consulate To Protest Anti-LGBT Laws

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Jul 31, 2013

HuffPost

At Russian Consulate, LGBT Activists Protest Anti-Gay Laws

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Jul 30, 2013

Gay City News

ACT UP Disrupts Stoli Splash Bash; July 31 Demo Planned at Russian Consulate

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Jul 30, 2013

The Atlantic

Russian Vodka Boycott in Gay Bars Faces Predictable Backlash

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Jul 29, 2013

NYC News

Gay activists call for boycott of 2014 Olympics – and Russian vodka

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Jul 28, 2013

The Moscow Times

Vodka Brand Stands With Lesbians and Gays Against the Government

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Jul 24, 2013

xTra

Gay athlete plans to wear rainbow pin to Sochi Olympics in Russia

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Jul 11, 2013

Skift

New York LGBT group calls for boycott of Russia’s 2014 Winter Olympics

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Jul 4, 2013

International Business Times

Sochi 2014 Olympics Unsafe For LGBT Community Under Russia’s Anti-Gay Law, Activists Warn

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Jul 3, 2013

Eurasianet

Russian Speakers Celebrate LGBT Pride – in New York

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Jun 30, 2013

NPR

Banned From Marching, Russians Celebrate Gay Pride Online

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Jun 25, 2013

HuffPost

To Russia With #VirtualPride

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Jun 24, 2013

The Atlantic

Former Soviet Union Expats to Debut Russian Float at NYC Gay-Pride Parade

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Jun 25, 2012

Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty

Russian-Speaking New Yorkers March For Gay Rights

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Jun 25, 2012

Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty

Gay Rights Activists In New York March For Equality In Russia

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