In the last week or so, news of Chechnya rounding up gay men and sending them to concentration camps has shocked the world. Here at PRIDE, we've been left wondering what we can do for the people of Chechnya.
We reached out to Russian activists for updates and guidance on how to assist Russian LGBT groups. Artem, an LGBT activist in Russia, shared a few details of his experience with us and how people across the world can help.
"For more than three years, I was the main organizer of assistance to the victims of the 'occupy' group and helped people who were doing social networking. I helped remove all the materials on the Internet about their orientation since this in most cases threatened their lives.
For the past two years, I have not dealt with a human rights activity but only helped free to develop the largest internet companies in the field of LGBT rights. I was approached by hundreds of people who were subjected to violence and blackmail. What is happening now in Chechnya is happening all over Russia, but not so massively. Of all my work I understood one thing: we can influence the power only by pressure from the whole world and contempt for such things. The main help for the community is the dissemination of information about these violations and calls for their thorough investigation!"
So here are a few things you can do.
1. Attend rallies and protests.
Show your support for the LGBT community in Chechnya and use your voice. Attend local rallies and let the world know that we're united.
2. Sign the petitions.
There are several petitions going around calling for a solution from the leaders of Russia. Here are a few you can sign:
Russia Prosecutor General, investigate mass murder and torture of LGBT people in Chechnya
Russian authorities: Stop the persecution of gay men in Chechnya
CHECHNYA: STOP ABDUCTING AND KILLING GAY MEN
3. Donate.
Give anything you can, because every penny helps. Donate to the Russian LGBT Network here.
4. Pressure your representatives and lawmakers.
About 50 US Congressional Representatives have signed a petition calling for an investigation in Chechnya. Demand your Congressmen sign as well.
You can also email the United States Mission to the United Nations and request action.
5. Stay informed.
Keep up with Chechen news and make sure people know what's going on. #Chechnya and #CloseTheCamps are updated constantly. LGBTQ media is covering the crisis in depth, but it's not enough. Sharing what you learn with your friends and family can help the topics trend and gain hyper-visibility on more mainstream news networks.
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