Young LGBT+ activist and feminist Yulja Tsvetkova is being charged with violating the Russian "gay propaganda" law for drawing a rainbow family.
Update – 13 June 2020: Authorities formally charged Yulja of violating the "gay propaganda" law, again. This case was launched over new drawings of same-sex families Yulja shared after the release of a homophobic political ad promoting Russia’s recent constitutional plebiscite.
Update – 16 March 2020: Today, Yulja was released from house arrest. But she remains under travel restrictions and still faces up to six years in prison. Let’s keep up the pressure to make sure all charges against Yulja are dropped.
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When Yulja heard about a same-sex couple who had to flee Russia with their two adopted children after being targeted by the authorities, she drew a picture (see above – the text reads “Family is where love is. Support LGBT+ families.”) to show her solidarity.
After she shared this and other drawings promoting inclusivity on social media, the authorities brought trumped-up charges against her for violating the Russian "gay propaganda" law and distributing pornography, fined her 50,000 rubles (around 800 USD / 722 €), and put her under house arrest. She could face up to six years in prison.
She is not the first person to be targeted under the "gay propaganda" law. But with your help, she might be the last.
If enough people speak up, the charges might be dropped – and the "gay propaganda" law abolished once and for all.
Sign Yulja’s petition today.
This campaign is being run in conjunction with the Moscow Community Center.