Young LGBT+ activist and feminist Yulja Tsvetkova is being charged with violating the Russian "gay propaganda" law for drawing a rainbow family.
Update – 01 December 2022: Good news! After more than three years of house arrest and seemingly endless legal battles, Yulja has finally been cleared of all charges. She was able to leave Russia together with her family and is now safe in a European country!
Update – 22 July 2022: After over 3 years of persecution from Russian authorities just for drawing a picture of LGBT+ families and some body-positive illustrations, Yulja was acquitted by a court on July 15, 2022. However, the prosecutor's office appealed the court's decision. The fight continues and All Out members will keep supporting Yulja.
Update – 16 February 2021: The prosecutor’s office of the Khabarovsk Territory approved the indictment against Yulja. If found guilty, she could face up to six years in prison.
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.