RUSSIAN EXPAT SEEKS TO FORM LGBT MICRONATION

BY JOHN MCDONALD

Interested in a little nation building are we?

Well, if you’re queer then look no further than the Rainbow Republic. It’s a micronation, designed for the LGBT community, to essentially bring all elements of existence under one domain.

“The existing LGBTQ communities mostly focus on one or several particular goals – to protect LGBTQ rights or to promote LGBTQ values,” said Dimitri Shikhov, 33, who serves as Secretary of State for the Rainbow Republic. “However, we want to create a comprehensive political, social, economic and cultural ecosystem for LGBTQ community with its own political structure, businesses and financial system, civil society, culture, etc.”

Micronations are tiny spots in cyberspace typically claimed by an entity as sort of a rebellion against societal norms. Locally, a 1982 effort by a group of fed-up Key West residents to start the Conch Republic is a well-known example.

In the Rainbow Republic’s case, uniting a specific community is very much needed considering many parts of the world still shun LGBT people, said Shikhov. A Russian expat living in the eastern European country of Georgia, Shikhov knows this all too well.

Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law an expanded version of the country’s “LGBT propaganda” regulations, which bans gay public expressions and places heavy fines on the promotion of homosexuality.

“The Rainbow Republic decisively condemns further LGBT-related restrictions in Russia,” said Shikhov. “I see it as another step against Russia’s civil society, freedoms and human rights. It is especially painful for me because I have Russian origin. Russia has a rather big LGBT community, and obviously these people are severely discriminated against. However, I truly believe that the dictatorship will collapse one day, and Russia will enter the community of free and democratic nations.”

Shikhov said the success of another micronation – Liberland – inspired him to form the Rainbow Republic. Presently, the Rainbow Republic has 10 citizens and a dozen supporters. Those interested in joining can fill out an application for citizenship found on www.rainbowrepublic.world

The Rainbow Republic has only been in existence for a couple of months and there are plans to start a cryptocurrency, but for now it uses the U.S. dollar and cryptocurrencies Bitcoin and Tether. The possibility of acquiring physical space, as Liberland did on the banks of the Danube River, is more of a long-term goal.

“We understand that without a physical territory we can’t offer some benefits that traditional states can offer,” Shikhov said. “At the same time joining a micronation allows one to get a new identity for those who are disappointed in traditional states. Joining a micronation is like joining a community of like-minded people, but it’s not just a club, but a comprehensive ecosystem with its own political, economic and social structure.”

The opportunity to register a business or marriage in a micronation is of great value to those who live in countries where LGBT existence is forbidden, Shikhov notes. The Rainbow Republic goes so far as to accept “group marriages” – a risky venture Shikhov is willing to take.

“Well, a few decades ago promoting LGBT values was risque too, and in some countries it still is,” Shikhov said. “Moreover, whether we recognize it or not, but group unions do exist. We don’t impose group marriages or somehow specially promote them, we simply want our citizens to enjoy the freedom of choice.”