In Moscow, men are dancing on a stage while holding reindeer antlers. It is a type of wedding ceremony that comes from the northern part of Russia and has been done for a long time.
The bride and groom, Ilona and Alexander, are sitting by a pretend campfire and watching traditional ceremonies, like tearing fabric and dancing with animal furs.
This is one of many weddings from different places in Russia happening at a show that supports love for the country and old-fashioned beliefs.
The ceremony is finished. The person in charge says, “Based on the laws of Russia, I now declare you married. ”
Russia’s laws were changed three years ago to say that marriage can only be between a man and a woman. Every wedding shown at the exhibition has a bride and groom.
In Russia, couples that are not traditional, like same-sex couples, are not allowed to legally form a union.
In recent years, Russia’s LGBT community has been facing more pressure from the authorities. In 2013, a law was passed that says it’s not allowed to talk to kids about relationships that are not traditional.
Last year, all age groups in Russia had to follow those rules. Mentions of LGBT people have been taken out of books, movies, ads, and TV shows. Earlier this month, a Russian TV channel changed the colors of a rainbow in a South Korean pop video to follow a law against promoting being gay.
Russia’s justice department wants the supreme court to declare the “International LGBT public movement” as an extremist group and make it illegal. Even though there is no official organization by that name.
What will happen if the supreme court agrees with the request.
Sergei Troshin, a deputy in St. Petersburg who recently came out as gay, believes that the new law could result in long prison sentences for anyone the government sees as an LGBT activist for “participating in an extremist organization. ” The person who planned the group will have to stay in prison for an even longer time.
This is actual oppression. The LGBT community in Russia is very scared and worried. People are leaving quickly. The word we are using is “evacuation. ” We have to leave our own country. “It’s really bad. ”
In the Russian parliament’s lower house, called the Duma, they have a different opinion.
“This does not involve people’s private lives or sexual orientation. ” Vitaly Milonov, a politician from the ruling party, United Russia, says the LGBT international movement is focused on its political agenda. He is known for being against LGBT people.
“They have things they need to do and things they want to achieve. ” They work as a political group, a political system, and their goals go against the Russian Constitution.
“I’ll talk about how the government is set up,” I replied. “There is no official international LGBT public movement. So, it doesn’t make sense to ban something that doesn’t even exist. ”
“Oh, it’s not hard,” Mr Milonov answers. “We can stop any activities from LGBT groups from other countries in Russia. ” That is good. We do not need them.
“I’m excited for the next step, which is to ban the six-color rainbow flag. ” We don’t want this flag. It represents the struggle against the traditional family. I don’t want anyone to display this flag in Russia.
Under Vladimir Putin, the government in Russia has adopted a belief system focused on traditional ideas and “family values”. The government shows LGBT activism as a Western idea that is unfriendly to Russia. Pressure is being put on the LGBT community in Russia to protect what is considered morally right.
And can it also help someone win votes.
Sergei Troshin thinks that the supreme court hearing is connected to the presidential election in March. “The government is making a fake enemy. ”
“They claim that we are fighting against the West. ” The fight against LGBT people is part of this anti-Western talk. Many conservatives who are against the West also oppose the LGBT community. This topic will be discussed before the election.
Maxim Goldman says that the Russian authorities are trying to make people focus on less important things so they don’t think about the real problems. He is employed by a Russian organization that helps transgender and non-binary people.
“When we found out about the supreme court hearing, the people in charge of our organization knew we had to leave the country right away. ” “It turned into a sudden urgent situation. ”
I am talking to Maxim, who says he is non-binary, on his last day in Russia. He put some clothes in a little suitcase and is going to the airport soon.
Maxim feels like his own country doesn’t want him. “We’re supposed to have a system where everyone can have a say in how our country is run. ” The leaders we choose to lead us are supposed to look after us.
The opposite is happening. They are trying to hurt us. They are treating us badly. “I have to leave against my will. ”
Right now, Sergei Troshin, who is a local government official, is staying. He doesn’t have any false beliefs.
“Sergei told me that he has talked a lot about LGBT rights in the past. ” “It’s possible that this could be enough evidence to start a criminal case against me. I don’t want it to happen, but it might. And this is scary.
Russian people are very afraid in their society. With each word you say, it’s like walking through a dangerous area with mines. If you say one thing, you could go to prison for five years. If you say something else, you could go to prison for ten or fifteen years.