Saint petersburg russia gay bars

The entrance to this renowned venue is marked only by a nondescript metal door in a dimly lit courtyard. Many people are scared after police raided several Moscow LGBT clubs a day after the gay was announced. Other bars have continued working but removed all references to LGBT lifestyles and symbols in decorations and signs as well as on social media.

It wasn't always this way, said Ivan, who opened his bar over a decade ago during a brief period of relative liberalization toward the LGBT community in Russia. Homosexual acts were decriminalized inand the country removed homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses in Back then, Ivan recalled, his bar would regularly be featured in local lifestyle magazines.

When the first law against LGBT propaganda toward minors was enforced inthis media coverage ceased. Since then, petersburg bar has relied on word of mouth to draw customers. Now a screen showing pictures of past drag shows hanging over the bar is the only element left hinting at the LGBT theme. The bar saint said he is used to rude behavior from police officers during routine checks.

Now, he is concerned that the new ban could escalate into arbitrary crackdowns. Ledenez, another gay club located in a basement in the city center, has also been stripped of LGBT-related imagery. Its main room is empty on a recent Thursday night. In a secondary room behind a curtain, about a dozen guests have gathered for a drag show.

He is attending the show with his gay friend Vladimir, The new ban did not come as a bar to them. They said they see it as just the last step of a long state effort to remove LGBT people from the public space. Unlike the original, her version revolves around one of the sisters russia in love with a married woman.

In case someone asks her why there are only women in the show, she is used to replying that there has been a shortage of men due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. We are facing unprecedented challenges.

Saint Petersburg Gay Bars & Clubs

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