It’s not just the Ukrainian people who are suffering under the regime of the war-mongering Putin, but also the LGBTQ+ community in Russia too.  Back in 2013 Putin looking to eliminate the community completely signed the ‘Gay Propaganda’ law which has since increased hostility in a culture that encourages rampant homophobia 

Under this vile legislation, it is illegal to promote “nontraditional sexual relations to minors” whether that be through the press, TV, radio, internet, etc. This has caused mass censorship of the country’s queer voices, along with limiting young people’s access to valuable support and information.

Thankfully it still doesn’t a handful of brave queer activists who are determined to combat these laws including Elizaveta Simbirskaya and Andreï Fenøčka.  They have created  HERE I COME a Russian web series set in Moscow that aims to spotlight stories of young queer adults in one of Europe’s most homophobic countries.  The show follows Roma, a struggling Armenian law student doubling as a pizza boy who, during the aftermath of an unplanned party, meets Alexey who turns his world upside down.

By distributing the series on YouTube, the show somehow manages to hurdle strict anti-gay laws to display possibilities of hope, acceptance, and love for queer folk living in Russia.  Its low production values are so outweighed by the sheer energy and positivity that exudes from this remarkably brave enterprise.  What is surprising ….. but extremely refreshing, is that Simbirskaya and Fenøčka did not want to focus on the negativity on being gay in their country but throw light for the  Russian community and show them that there is hope.