Trans, gender diverse rights deteriorating rapidly in Russia

Lawmakers seek final approval to gender transition ban

By BRODY LEVESQUE

In a scene eerily reminiscent of a 1960s cold war era novel, the young woman sat nervously at the outside table of the café not far from the museum district and main railroad station in St. Petersburg, chain smoking French Gitanes and toying with the food on her plate in front of her. She kept nervously glancing around as if she expected to suddenly be swept up in a secret police raid.

The primary cause of her anxiety and discomfiture she explained to the journalist sitting across the table from her, was that as a transgender woman, she felt threatened and afraid. Unable to continue to live in her native region in the Sverdlovsk Oblast, [region] in the Ural mountains she had moved first to the Russian capital of Moscow. Then as tensions rose over the treatment of LGBTQ Russians she fled to St. Petersburg.

“There is no safety anymore, soon they will openly hunt us like swine, we no right to exist they say,” she told Russian freelance journalist Sergei Dimitrov.

The young woman who only identified herself to Dimitrov by the name Elena said that since the latest passage of laws including expansion of the Russia’s “gay propaganda” law to include adults last December, coupled with the crackdown by the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media, abbreviated as Roskomnadzor, on any websites and on popular phone apps that cater to LGBTQ people, she has now begun efforts in earnest to leave the country.

Last week the lower house of the Russian Parliament, colloquially referred to as the State Duma, passed on its final reading a bill that would outlaw gender transitioning procedures in Russia. The measure now heads to the Federation Council, or upper House where it is expected to pass in the scheduled vote on Tuesday and then transmitted to Russian President Vladimir Putin for his approval and signature which is expected.

State Duma [Parliament] Deputy Speaker Pytor Tolstoy, a co-sponsor of the legislation, pointed out that banning the “practice of transgenderism” was in the interest of national security.

The diagnosis of “transsexualism,” he added, refers to gender identity disorders and is the basis for recognizing a citizen as unfit for military service. In addition, “we must not forget that by changing the sex of one of the partners, a homosexual couple gets the right to adopt a child. Unfortunately, there are already such cases in Russia,” he said.

The proposed law would bar Russians from changing their gender on official government identity documents including internal and external passports, driver’s licenses, and birth certificates, although gender marker changes had been legal for 26 years since 1997.

Medical healthcare providers would be banned from “performing medical interventions designed to change the sex of a person,” including surgery and prescribing hormone therapy.

In a floor speech prior to the vote last month after the measure’s first reading, Tolstoy blamed the West for what he deemed a profitable medical industry:

“The Western transgender industry is trying in this way to seep into our country, to break through a window for its multi-billion dollar business,” Tolstoy said. Then he claimed there is already a developed network of clinics in Russia, “it includes trans-friendly doctors and psychol- ogists, and all this operates with the active support of LGBT organizations. However, in the past six months they have changed their names to more, perhaps harmless ones,” he said inferring that the recent expansion of the country’s law banning LGBTQ propaganda was somehow responsible for those changes. sary burdens on trans people, forcing them to disclose their private and medical history and exposing them to discrimination, harassment and violence.”

According to Dimitrov, that particular provision of the legislation is specifically applicable to Elena, who while having completed transition-related surgery has been unable to get the gender marker changed on her documents, which with the current war in Ukraine has further complicated her life.

She told Dimitrov that demands for her to present herself for required military service, under her former name and gender, was yet another reason she had fled. Now she says, she is trapped and unable to legally leave, entertaining the option of illegally entering the EU and asking for asylum, most likely to neighboring Latvia, or Estonia.

Independent news outlet Mediazona reported in February 2023 that the number of passports issued due to “gender change” has more than doubled in 2022 compared with two years earlier — from 428 in 2020 to 936 last year, according to Russia’s Interior Ministry.

In justifying the provision, lawmakers cited concerns that men are using the relatively simple procedure of changing gender in official documents to dodge the military draft.

According to Tolstoy, gender reassignment surgery is “a very profitable area of medical services. And it’s understandable why a number of doctors defend this area so fiercely, hiding behind academic knowledge, including those obtained abroad while studying in the United States and other countries,” he said, “running into” Western medical education.

Provisions to the bill in its second reading, approved on Thursday, also ban trans people from adopting or fostering children, and force them to annul their marriages if one of the couple subsequently changes gender.

LGBTQ and human rights organization ILGA-Europe issued a statement condemning the actions of the Russian Duma and offered support and solidarity with the Russian trans and queer communities.

“We firmly assert that such legislation flagrantly violates fundamental human rights standards and principles.

ILGA-Europe firmly believe in the inherent dignity and equal rights of all individuals, regardless of their gender identity or expression. International human rights standards, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, emphasize that everyone has the right to self-determination, privacy, and the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. Denying trans and gender diverse individuals access to trans-specific healthcare and legal gender recognition blatantly disregards the international human rights framework,” ILGA-Europe wrote.

Sympathetic physicians and trans rights advocates have warned that the ban is poised to create a black market for hormone substitutes, some of which likely will be dangerous and lead to an increase in attempted suicides among trans youth unable to access medical care.

ILGA-Europe’s statement also warned: “Furthermore, the bill invalidates all certificates of legal gender recognition for individuals who have undergone transition-related surgery but not yet changed the gender marker in their passport. This is a violation of their right to privacy, places trans people in legal limbo, and creates unneces-

Another point was raised by a lawmaker who asked what to do with 3,000-plus trans people who have already managed to change their gender and documents. Tolstoy responded noted that the law does not have retroactive effect.

State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin called gender transitioning “pure satanism.”

Akram Kubanychbekov, a senior advocacy officer for ILGA-Europe, this past week sent out a “dear colleagues” request for assistance detailing specific needs and actions that will be crucial to assisting trans and gender diverse Russians.

Kubanychbekov wrote: “Discrimination, violence and the enactment of oppressive laws have made it increasingly unsafe for trans people to live their lives authentically and without fear. In light of these circumstances, we have reached out local trans organizations to ask them of support trans community need at the moment.

“To address the urgent needs of trans people who wish to leave Russia, there is a need in facilitating support for broadening the criteria for humanitarian visas. By expanding the eligibility criteria, we can ensure that those facing persecution and threats to their safety have a viable pathway to seek refuge in other countries. It is crucial to work together to advocate for this change with governments at the national level to extend our support to trans people seeking a safer environment in safer countries.

“In addition to humanitarian visas, trans organizations [inside Russia] asked to assist in securing multi-entry, long-term (preferably Schengen) visas for activists, who will continue their important work within Russia but may need to swiftly leave in case of escalating danger. By facilitating the necessary visa support, activists are enabled to carry out their vital work with the knowledge that they have an emergency exit if required.

“We would like to encourage you to stand in solidarity with the local trans organizations in Russia and support their requests.”

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Diedre Gray

is director of THI at the Rainbow History Project. Reach Gray at diedre@rainbowhistory.org.

Trans History Initiative: It’s about damn time

New project highlights local trans, nonbinary community members

It’s been said many times “this trans thing is just so new!” The reality is that trans and nonbinary folx have walked the Earth in every culture since the beginning of time–both visibly and discreetly. Sometimes referred to as: eunuch, mukhannathun, two-spirit, transexual or, in our modern terms, transgender, trans and nonbinary folx are found in the Bible, the Qur’an, as well as ancient Chinese texts and Indigenous cultures. Then why isn’t that history better known?

There are a great many national and international trans and nonbinary people in world history. Here at the local level, since its founding in 2000, the Rainbow History Project has been documenting them as part of its work to collect, preserve and promote the history and culture of diverse LGBTQ communities. Now, through a grant from the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, RHP created the Trans History Initiative to further highlight local amazing trans and nonbinary community members throughout metropolitan D.C.

Some of the history makers include people like Miss Earline Budd. Her activism for transgender folx goes back to the early 1980s. She has fought against discrimination in D.C. and has been instrumental in providing support by working through her own non-profits T.H.E.(Transgender Health Empowerment, Inc) and E.T.C. (Empowering The Community) in addition to being a staple of leadership and support at HIPS.

Activist Patti Shaw sued D.C. Police and the U.S. Marshals for her mistreatment after being arrested in 2009 and placed with male prisoners. She won her settlement that changed how gender is reported in the Police Department Identification (PDID) system.

In 1995, Tyra Hunter was denied care by D.C.’s EMS personnel after being hurt in a car accident. Her death resulted in a lengthy lawsuit against the D.C. government that resulted in the Tyra Hunter Human Diversity Training Series as required training for D.C. Fire and EMS personnel.

Of course, many of our elders such as SaVanna Wanzer, Dee Curry and Rayceen Pendarvis paved the way for future generations to be heard, fight for themselves and have a better lived experience than the one they grew up in. Some other trailblazers include: Cecilia Llanos-Astete, the first openly trans Latina hired by the D.C. Department of Health. Tyler Edge, the first trans man to serve as Associate Director of the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs. Bonnie Davenport became the first trans person to serve in MPD. Ruby Corado, who founded Casa Ruby to provide shelter and housing for trans youth for more than a decade. The legendary first lady of D.C., Miss Ella Fitzgerald. Actress Monroe Alise, who was featured on the hit show, “P-Valley.” Katherine Goforth was recently announced as the inaugural recipient of Washington National Opera’s True Voice Award. Kye Allums became the first trans man to play basketball at George Washington University.

In addition, just some of our gender diverse family community leaders include folx such as Xemiyulu Manibusan Tapepechul, Two-Spirit and nonbinary actor, writer, director, producer, and artist; Tẹmídayọ Amay. Of course the story of trans and nonbinary folx in the DMV would be incomplete if the violence and murders of trans and nonbinary folx, especially Black trans women, were not yelled from the mountain tops. Over the years there have been hundreds, even thousands from this community assaulted and/ or murdered. Unfortunately, most of the cases remain unsolved. Zoe Spears and Ashanti Carmon were murdered just a few months apart in 2019. And, earlier this calendar year, Jazmine “Starr” Parker was murdered. However, this brief list reflects just some of those beautiful souls taken from our family, too soon.

Our history is a complex and beautiful tapestry of bright, loud colors and soft, quiet breezes. Fiery rebellion and sullen memorials. Passionate protests and chosen family. We are not monolithic. Rather, the same diversity that exists in all of humankind definitely lives within our community. Because of the relationship that RHP is building with the transgender community, our stories and experiences will be preserved for future generations to experience our rich history throughout the DMV.

Even though our differences reflect the individuality of each community member, being on our “gender-journey” continually unites and binds us together as family. We were here from the beginning and we will not be erased.

Peter Rosenstein

is a longtime LGBTQ rights and Democratic Party activist. He writes regularly for the Blade.

Astronaut, architect, CEO: As times changed, so did Barbie

Love her or hate her, Mattel’s iconic doll will outlive us all

It makes you wonder about the state of things when the blockbuster movie of the summer is about a doll. “Barbie” has beaten out Tom Cruise’s latest “Mission Impossible” movie, and Harrison Ford’s 80-year-old version of Indiana Jones, with the biggest opening of the year. Maybe that can be explained knowing Barbie is only 64. She could sing to the world the Beatles verse, “Will you still love me when I’m 64?” and the answer seems to be a resounding, “YES!”

I never played with dolls as a child so that wasn’t a manifestation at the time of my being gay. I had other indications like doing flower arranging. I won a blue ribbon for one arrangement and did window displays for local stores. But I knew about Barbie. Now as I move toward my dotage, I have a good friend who owns two bars called Freddie’s, one in Virginia, and one in Rehoboth Beach, and he is infatuated with Barbie. I also enjoy photographing the ‘Barbie House’ on Q Street in Dupont Circle, which has various entertaining displays of Barbie dolls in the yard, depicting the issues of the day.

When Barbie was introduced by Mattel in 1959, girls loved her, and they all wanted her. She came with beautiful clothes, long blond hair, and a perfect figure. You could get all kinds of accessories for her from jewelry, clothing, even a Barbie kitchen. Clearly young girls at the time were expected to learn to cook. It was the end of the 1950s and that was our culture.

But as our society’s norms changed, so did Barbie. She was an astronaut, an architect, and a CEO. In 1961, Mattel introduced the world to Ken, Barbie’s boyfriend. You could get Ken with either blond or dark hair, and he wore a red bathing suit showing off his perfect plastic body, just lacking genitals. Outfits for him included a tuxedo. Things went along fine for Barbie and Ken for years. Barbie seemed to treat Ken as an accessory, like a new fur, or a bracelet. I always thought of the two of them like the perfect children of a TV couple like Ozzie and Harriet Nelson. Bland and pretty. But then my dreams, as a totally closeted boy at the time, were not about Barbie or Ken, but rather of the Nelson’s real younger son, Ricky. Mattel kept up with the times and the fight for civil rights by introducing Christie, a doll of color, as Barbie’s friend in the later ‘60s

In 1993, Mattel issued a new version of Ken: Earring Magic Ken. Ken was now wearing a mesh shirt, exposing his abs. He had an earring and necklace. Years later Katie Dupere would write in her column, “The true story of Mattel accidentally releasing a super gay Ken doll,” “After the doll’s 1993 release, activist and writer Dan Savage, who at the time was working for queer-focused newspaper The Stranger, wrote a piece about the doll’s decidedly “gay” look. In the story, Savage particularly focused on the doll’s necklace, a circular chrome pendant hanging from a silver chain. Savage wrote that the necklace “is what ten out of ten people in-the-know will tell you at a glance is a c*** ring.”

Barbie and Ken and their friends changed with the times. Barbie and Ken never married; just stayed boyfriend and girlfriend for 43 years. Then the day before Valentine’s Day 2004, Mattel began a large-scale publicity promotion by issuing a press release telling the world Barbie and Ken were breaking up. This was national news, covered among other places by the “Today” show. Then at Toy Fair 2004, Mattel introduced Blaine, a boogie boarding Australian hottie who they said was now dating Barbie. One thing Barbie has never done is have children. I see her as the precursor to Sarah Jessica Parker’s character in “Sex And the City.”

In interviews about the movie, Margot Robbie, who plays Barbie, tells Ryan Gosling, Ken, she is moving on from him being merely an accessory, which is what Mattel introduced him as. You could buy a Barbie mink stole, a new Barbie dress, a Barbie bracelet, a Barbie oven, or Ken. Totally interchangeable.

With this movie, whether you love or hate Barbie, you can be assured she will outlive you, especially if you are a man. Mattel has sold more than 1 billion Barbies and we can be confident that future generations will continue to add to Mattel’s bottom line as we wait to see where Barbie goes next.