Gay clubs in russia

Russia's Largest Gay Nightclub Strives to Be a Haven Despite Horrific Attacks

Feb. 12, &#; -- As Russia enjoys the spotlight that shines from the multibillion-dollar splendor of the Sochi Winter Olympics, over in Moscow, dismay runs through Central Station, Russia's largest gay nightclub.

With its bullet-sprayed doors and protective razor-wire fencing, Central Station management says it has been subjected to shootings, water and gas attacks, and vandalism. Considered by many patrons as "the cultural center" for gays in Russia, the lively venue is known for its colorful, irreverent drag shows and modern house music. But the staff says a recent spate of homophobic attacks has terrified the gay community there.

They speak it's all part of an intensifying anti-gay sentiment in Russia, a country that's never been widely accepting of homosexuality, but recently has been inflamed by a controversial anti-gay propaganda statute.

The law, signed by President Putin last June, bans the "propaganda of non-traditional relationships" to minors, and has re

Russian forces raid homosexual clubs after branding LGBTQ movement an extremist organisation

Russian forces have raided male lover clubs and bars across Moscow days after the territory ruled that the LGBTQ community was an extremist organisation.

Police searched venues across the Russian capital on Friday bedtime, including a nightclub, a male sauna, and a lock that hosted LGBTQparties, under the pretext of a drug raid, according to local media.

The raids come days after Russia's Supreme Court banned what it called the "global LGBTQ movement".

Eyewitnesses of the raids told journalists that clubgoers' documents were checked and photographed by the security services.

Several LGBTQ venues own already closed monitoring the decision, including St Petersburg's male lover club Central Station, whose owner told social media followers it would not reopen while the new laws were in place.

Activists state the court's definition of the movement is so broad and vague that it gives Russian authorities the ability to crack down on any individuals or groups deemed to be part of the LGBTQ community.

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Over 50 people detained as police raid two Moscow gay clubs overnight

Moscow police have raided two same-sex attracted clubs in the Russian capital overnight, detaining over 50 people, Telegram channels MSK1 and SHOT reported on Saturday.

According to MSK1, one of the raids was carried out at the Central Station club in downtown Moscow, with the purported aim “to fight drug trafficking”. Videos from the club demonstrate police officers forcing people to lie on the ground with their hands behind their head, stay with their hands against the wall, and violently frisking them.

Central Station was holding an event marking National Coming Out Night, an annual date observed worldwide on 11 October in support of the queer community, when the police arrived at about 1am, SHOT reported. About people were in the venue at the hour of the raid.

Over 50 people were detained by the police during the raid, SHOT reported, adding that police also raided Three Monkeys, another core Moscow queer venue overnight. It is unknown where those detained were taken.

According to SHOT, the venues were raided following “civ

Police raid Moscow gay bars after top court’s LGBTQ ‘extremist’ designation

Russian security forces have raided gay clubs and bars across Moscow shortly after a decree by the country’s uppermost court that designated the LGBTQ movement as “extremist”.

Police officers searched venues across the Russian capital sdelayed on Friday, including a nightclub, a male sauna and a bar that hosted LGBTQ parties, under the pretext of a drug raid, according to local media.

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Witnesses told journalists that clubgoers’ documents were checked and photographed by the security services. They also said that managers had been fit to warn patrons before police arrived.

The raids appear less than 48 hours after Russia’s Supreme Court ruled that “the international LGBT public movement and its subdivisions” are now considered extremist