Sabbatår i Rusland: kamp for LGBTQ+ rettigheder

My name is [NAVN A]. I am currently 17 years old and live in Denmark, in a town called Holstebro with my parents and my sister. In my spare time, I like a wide range of things such as drawing, painting, politics and hanging out with friends.

I am attending a different school to finish my 10th grade this year, and I have been going to school since I can remember so I think now is the perfect time to leave Denmark and have the opportunity to experience a bit of the world while it is still possible.

For my gap year, I want to go to Russia and fight for LGBTQ+ rights. It has always been very difficult to be LGBTQ+ in Russia, or anywhere else for that matter, but right now, it is worse than ever.

Early last year, a Russian website created by a group known only as ‘Saw’ emerged online. With pictures of hundreds of LGBTQ+ members and activists being beaten, tortured and killed.

Later on, the website published a “kill list”. The list was very detailed and featured the names, addresses, and photographs of LGBTQ+ members and activists. With the promise of a cash reward for successful attacks. And the government is doing nothing to help these people.