ComingOut LGBTQ+ group

It is a year since Russia’s Supreme Court declared the «International LGBT movement» as extremist. This decision hasn’t just threatened our community—it’s criminalized self-expression and stoked fear for thousands of queer Russians. But at ComingOut, we believe that even in the darkest times, unconditional love can defeat fear. To keep offering safe support spaces, guidance, and resources, we must build a reliable monthly donation foundation. By joining as a recurring donor, you can help us reach our goal of €1,500 per month. Your support means we can continue to stand beside each person who reaches out, ensuring they’re met with warmth, care, and a community that won’t abandon them. Join us and share your love: https://lnkd.in/dKS6bHvr

We understand what you're feeling. Even though it's been a long time since we've seen a fair election ourselves, we know exactly how it feels to wake up to this kind of news. We've had many mornings like this too, and each time, we’ve committed to standing by and protecting the queer community, regardless of any law or leader that tries to push us back. To our friends in the U.S. and everywhere, we see you. We feel you. As much as we wish things were different today, we know that many are feeling this impact deeply. And yet, this is precisely when we need each other most. Because solidarity is our strongest power. Solidarity has won us rights to civil partnerships, to reproductive choice, and to every step forward we’ve taken together. It’s only by standing together that we can keep moving ahead. So let’s keep going—with action and with hope. With love, ComingOut as a part of the Russian Queer Community

Sharing a beautiful opportunity with our Russian-speaking friends and colleagues. Brought to you by an amazing Katerina Luchinina and our team. ________________ Diversity is being invited to the party; inclusion is being asked to dance. — Verna Myers, Harvard Business Review* Представляем бесплатный онлайн-курс для руководителей, HR-специалистов, консультантов и всех, кто работает с командами и стремится создать более справедливую и инклюзивную среду, развивая культуру уважения и принятия: "DEIB — разнообразие, равенство, инклюзия и принадлежность". 1. Читайте или слушайте: продолжительность прослушивания — чуть меньше 3 часов; 2. Проходите в своем ритме: курс содержит задания для самопроверки; 3. Усиливайте свою экспертизу: курс основан на опыте ведущих западных компаний... ... и пусть каждый сотрудник чувствует себя ценным и востребованным. https://lnkd.in/dN4NMitU * "Разнообразие — это как будто вас пригласили на вечеринку, а инклюзия — как будто вас пригласили там на танец". — Верна Майерс, Гарвард Бизнес Ревью.

Happy coming out day, everyone! Be it at a workplace or a family home, LGBTQ+ people in Russia feel now less and less safe to share their identity with others. And yet, we shouldn't let it stop us from supporting the communities living under totalitarian regimes. Let's celebrate each other and those who cannot do it publicly! Thank you everyone for being with us 🤍

Take this opportunity to meet up with our CEO in Bucharest, share experiences on the work in the last year and find new ways to collaborate!

TW: discussion of homophobic persecution, t-slur in quote From the outside looking in, it may be hard to see how the queerphobic laws passed in Russia actually affect the lives of LGBTQ+ people. In this post, we’ve listed just a few recent cases of “LGBT propaganda” in different areas of life. But here at ComingOut, we don’t just shed light on the issues that LGBTQ+ Russians face. We also support them directly through free psychological, legal, and career counseling. If you’d like to help us make a difference, consider donating through the link in our bio. Every cent counts 🤍 In media In May, a court in St. Petersburg ruled against a streaming service for hosting the movie “Yves Saint Laurent.” The movie contains a scene of two men kissing, as well as a discussion of gay relationships. The TV show “How to Get Away with Murder” and the movie “Three Steps Above Heaven” met a similar fate due to having LGBTQ+ characters. In June, another streaming service was fined for €15,000 for hosting the TV show “Supergirl.” According to the court decision, it contains “LGBT propaganda” in the form of a background lesbian character. Recently, one of the biggest Russian TV channels received a €10,000 fine as well. It failed to rate a movie NC-17 for containing a scene of two women kissing. In real life In Voronezh, two women were reported to the police for “LGBT propaganda” because of sharing a kiss at a local bar. The case ended up being dropped, since the court failed to prove that a mere kiss could count as propaganda. In June, a man was persecuted for placing an ad for his sex work services. According to the court ruling, he identified as a “transvestite.” Therefore, the advertising of his services was interpreted as “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations.” For our symbols In June, a €10 fine was imposed in Volgograd for a rainbow flag posted on social media. In July, the Adler District Court kept a woman under arrest for 10 days for “demonstration of extremist symbols” — a photo with a rainbow flag on her social media page. It’s important to mention that regardless of whether a person was fined or arrested, if they get caught with a rainbow flag on their social media again, the consequence will be the same: criminal prosecution, possibly resulting in imprisonment.

Alex was feeling lost in the job hunt. He had the skills and experience, yet just couldn’t seem to break through the barriers. 🚧 But with support from ComingOut, he managed to turn things around! We worked together to polish his CV, practice interviews, and negotiate a better salary. And guess what? His perseverance paid off! Alex landed a fantastic job and significantly increased his income. His story proves that anyone can achieve their goals with the right kind of support. Read it and get inspired! 💜 ____________________________________________________ Alex, a 27-year-old transgender man from St. Petersburg, Russia, was facing significant challenges in his career. Despite his experience in logistics and warehouse management, he was struggling to find a job that matched his skills and aspirations. Low self-esteem and a lack of confidence hindered Alex’s job search. He kept applying for low-paying jobs that were far below his qualifications. This led to a cycle of constant rejections. As a result, Alex’s financial situation was dire, and he was barely able to cover his basic living expenses. Frustrated, Alex reached out to ComingOut for guidance. We offered him two personal career counseling sessions, helping him to: - recalibrate his career goals - identify his strengths, skills, and interests - revamp his CV - expand his job search - prepare for interviews - negotiate his salary With our support, Alex was able to secure a fulfilling job as a marketplace manager in just a matter of weeks. His new role offered a significant increase in salary, allowing him to improve his quality of life. He was able to not only move out of the suburbs but also start saving money. Alex’s story highlights the importance of targeted support for marginalized communities. By providing tailored career counseling, we were able to help him break free from the cycle of unemployment and build a brighter future. Here at ComingOut, we are committed to supporting LGBTQ+ people in Russia and ensuring that everyone has equal opportunities to thrive.

Some human experiences can’t be silenced even by the threats of death or imprisonment. Even though Russia has always made it hard for queer art to be freely accessible, some directors kept telling love stories so that they never be forgotten. It is crucial to remember that queer love exists even if governmental laws deny it. Most of the films above may be found in English or with subtitles. Share in comments your favorite Eastern European movies that shed light on what it is like to be an LGBTQIA+ person in Russia.

Today, we have a happy story to share! Sergei had been hiding his identity for years, but after coming out he received support from where he never expected it. Stories like this highlight that despite the homophobic agenda that the government is pushing on Russians, there’s still love, care, and acceptance to be found for LGBTQ+ people! "I’d been preparing to tell my parents that I was gay for four years. There were these constant questions: “When are you getting married?”, “When are we getting grandkids?”. It was harder and harder to hide the fact that the guy I lived with was my boyfriend and not just a friend. I came to visit my dad and decided that it was now or never. We were sitting at the table — me, my dad, and my aunt — and eating soup. I awkwardly blurted out: “By the way, Andrew, the guy I live with — he’s my boyfriend.” My words were met with heavy silence. Then my father turned red and yelled, standing up: “I will hear no such thing in my house!” He then said that it was only a phase, that I just needed to find a nice girl, and other stereotypical stuff. I stared at the floor in silence, waiting for him to finish with the lecture. Then my aunt stepped in and started arguing with him. I didn’t expect such support — I was convinced that she was also homophobic. She said that I was still a part of the family, and as long as I was happy, it didn’t matter who I was with. Of course, my father didn’t listen and stormed out of the room. We didn't speak at all for about a month afterwards. I didn’t text, he didn’t call. I had almost resigned myself to being the black sheep of the family. Until one day, I got a message from him saying: “Sergei, forgive your old man. Come to our barbecue with Andrew some time.” It was a shocker, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Since then, everything’s been great. I started coming over with my boyfriend. It was awkward at first, but still nice. Later, I found out that my aunt had sent dad a bunch of articles and books about sexuality, about the difficulties of being gay in Russia, and so on. Andrew and I are endlessly grateful to her for that. I am sharing my story to show other LGBTQ+ people that support can come from where you least expect it. And happy stories still exist despite the homophobia in our society."

Happy International Non-Binary People’s Day! 💛🤍💜🖤 Non-binary identities can be a bit of a mystery, even within the LGBTQ+ community. It simply means someone’s gender identity doesn’t fit neatly into “man” or “woman.” They might feel like both, neither, or somewhere in between. You might be surprised to learn that celebrities like Gerard Way, Janelle Monáe, Olly Alexander, and even our own Masha Gessen identify as non-binary! Here at ComingOut, around 15% of the people we support through our psychological, legal, and career services are non-binary. These are real people facing challenges, and we’re here for them. 🫂 While the non-binary identity is gaining recognition, there are still many misconceptions surrounding it. Today, we want to challenge those myths and amplify the voices of the Russian non-binary community. Swipe right to learn more about this identity directly from some amazing Russian non-binary folks! 🫶 Let’s break down the myths together and celebrate the beautiful spectrum of gender identities. Share this post and spread the word! . . . . . #LGBTQRussia #QueerRussia #Russia #LGBTQ #Queer #Genderqueer #NonBinary #InternationalNonBinaryPeoplesDay #NonBinaryAwareness #NonBinaryVisibility #StandWithLGBTQ #SupportLGBTQ #LGBTQRights #HumanRights