Gays emigrate from Russia en mass – While not an “en masse” movement, significant numbers of LGBTQ+ individuals are emigrating from Russia due to increased state-sponsored repression, violence, and the 2023 designation of “extremist” activities by the supreme court. This exodus includes both those seeking asylum and those fleeing both persecution and conscription for the war in Ukraine. The trend has led to increased arrivals in countries like Argentina, the U.S., and elsewhere, creating support networks for these new immigrants. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8] Contributing factors State-sponsored repression: The Russian government has enacted laws and policies that target the LGBTQ+ community. Vio

Gays emigrate from Russia en mass –
While not an “en masse” movement, significant numbers of LGBTQ+ individuals are emigrating from Russia due to increased state-sponsored repression, violence, and the 2023 designation of “extremist” activities by the supreme court. This exodus includes both those seeking asylum and those fleeing both persecution and conscription for the war in Ukraine. The trend has led to increased arrivals in countries like Argentina, the U.S., and elsewhere, creating support networks for these new immigrants. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
Contributing factors

State-sponsored repression: The Russian government has enacted laws and policies that target the LGBTQ+ community.
Violence and harassment: LGBTQ+ individuals face a high risk of violence, threats, and discrimination, with reports of physical violence and targeted police raids.
“Extremist” designation: In 2023, the Russian supreme court designated “LGBT movements” as extremist organizations, leading to further crackdowns.
War in Ukraine: The war has accelerated the exodus, as many LGBTQ+ individuals are also fleeing the draft. [1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9]

Consequences of emigration

Increased arrivals: There has been a noticeable increase in the number of Russian-speaking LGBTQ+ individuals emigrating, particularly to countries like Argentina and the U.S..
Support networks: New support networks, like the organization QARAVAN (formerly RUSA LGBTQ+), have been formed to assist LGBTQ+ immigrants from Russia.
Asylum challenges: Many face lengthy and difficult asylum processes in their new countries. [1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10]

What to keep in mind

While individual stories and specific instances of large groups leaving exist, this is not a single, mass event but rather a continuing trend of individuals and smaller groups emigrating.
The trend is a complex one, driven by a combination of factors, including state repression, social stigma, and the war in Ukraine.
There are numerous official and unofficial organizations assisting LGBTQ+ Russians in their attempts to emigrate and seek refuge. [1, 3, 4, 5, 7]

AI responses may include mistakes.

[1]  mwe.com/legal-case-studies/p…
[2]  novayagazeta.eu/articles/202…
[3]  columbianewsservice.com/2023…
[4]  lgbtqnation.com/2025/11/gay-…
[5]  dailynews.com/2023/07/14/lgb…
[6]  ilga-europe.org/files/upload…
[7]  qaravan.org/
[8]  nytimes.com/2025/04/01/world…
[9]  globalequality.org/component…
[10]  eurasianet.org/russian-speak…

Google Search  google.com/search?q=Gays+emi…

— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Nov 15, 2025