New Yorkers Rally Again To Protest Anti-Gay Purge In Chechnya

April 28, 2018

by Brandon Voss

1m ago

One year since reports of an anti-LGBT purge in Chechnya began to emerge, there has still been no official investigation by Russian authorities, and many victims remain missing.

Spearheaded by grassroots activist organization Voices4, New Yorkers once again gathered today to protest the detainment and persecution of LGBT people in Chechnya, as well as the lack of media coverage in response to these injustices.

Led by Voices4 founder and LGBT activist Adam Eli, protesters congregated this afternoon at Columbus Circle in Manhattan. Among those participating at the non-violent rally were RuPaul’s Drag Race star Milk, YouTuber Tyler Oakley, local drag performer Marti Gould Cummings, and musician Zeke Thomas.

Voices4 also encouraged supporters to take digital action by adjusting their Grindr and Tinder profiles with information about the Chechen purge and the hashtag #Looking4Voices.

Voices4 previously organized a successful march from Stonewall Inn to Trump Tower in October.

Reports first began surfacing last April that authorities in Chechnya were detaining, torturing, and even murdering gay men. Kremlin-backed Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov repeatedly denied these reports, claiming that there no gay men living in the predominantly Muslim Russian republic.

Voices4 is specifically demanding humanitarian visas for those in the LGBT community who have escaped from Chechnya and are now hiding in Russian safe houses.

Today’s march also raised awareness for RUSA LGBT, an advocacy group for Russian-Speaking American LGBT people and their allies.

Human rights groups have suggested that the anti-gay purge in Chechnya may have emboldened homophobes in other nearby majority-Muslim countries.

Logo, which previously joined forces with MTV and HRC in pressuring the White House to help stop ongoing attacks on Chechnya’s LGBT residents, covered today’s event for its Instagram story.

See more photos and videos from the Voices4 rally below.

one year ago today, the story broke about queer people being persecuted in chechnya. today we protest to raise awareness & demand action. learn more: @voices4_ pic.twitter.com/SwmWWsRDe3

— tyler oakley (@tyleroakley) April 28, 2018

Beautiful rally to speak out against the crimes against queer people in Chechnya – thank you @voices4_ – pic.twitter.com/sr1VpQtQPo

— Marti Gould Cummings (@MartiGCummings) April 28, 2018

From our protest today demanding justice for our queer siblings in #Chechnya.

Stop the hate. Investigate. Queer Chechens cannot wait. pic.twitter.com/NXPMWol2gj

— Voices 4 (@voices4_) April 28, 2018

No caption necessary.

pic.twitter.com/7ggUtcubZf

— Voices 4 (@voices4_) April 28, 2018

We demand justice for our queer siblings in #Chechnya, who continue to be persecuted to this day.

(From today’s @voices4_ protest) pic.twitter.com/6m69JKYaG5

— Vinnie Amendolare (@MrVAmen) April 28, 2018