Virtually (non)existent? The role of digital media in Russian LGBTQ+ activism

Abstract

Over the last two decades, LGBTQ+ individuals in Russia have been using digital media to communicate and mobilize, making up for their lack of representation in mainstream media. However, the government has strengthened its control over the internet to reinforce authoritarianism, traditionalism, and anti-Westernism, using queerphobia to target online sources of ‘LGBTQ+ propaganda.’ This article explores the important role of digital media in Russian LGBTQ+ activism and how activists deal with issues of community and visibility in the face of growing authoritarian control. Russian LGBTQ+ activists face the challenges of balancing safety, visibility, and belonging. To make the most impact, they use creative strategies and international digital media, utilizing delocalized visibility to achieve belonging without compromising their safety.