A popular gay couple on TikTok was arrested and charged by police for violating Russia’s anti-LBGTQ+ laws last week.
RELATED STORIES: Russian Teen Arrested For Arranging Contract Killing Of Her Mother
Gela Gogishvili,23, and his boyfriend, Haoyang Xu,21, were arrested by police in Kazan on Wednesday and were charged with violating a series of the countries laws, which included positive depictions of LGBTQ+ people in media and the dissemination of “gay propaganda to minors.” According to The Advocate, Gogishvili was released, but Haoyung remains imprisoned since he’s a Chinese national and faces immediate deportation. The couple’s TikTok page shows them documenting their daily lives as a gay couple, and the page has over 370,000 followers.
The couple met two years ago on a dating app and has faced some abuse from homophobes. Still, they were more concerned after they learned they were under investigation for promoting their lives as a gay couple on social media.
RELATED STORIES: Dallas Airbnb Host Denies Gay Couple From Booking A Stay
Haoyang revealed that one of his professors received a warning about the couple’s content on social media. In a video, he said he was very scared as the teacher told him he couldn’t display his relationship on social media. Authorities started investigating the couple in March and visited various pharmacies since Gogishvili is a pharmacist. In a video, he said police target people in the community due to the laws.
“As you know, last year Russia passed a law against LGBT propaganda, and now the state has untied the hands of all the homophobes of Russia. And now representatives of the queer community are being attacked; people are imprisoned, fined, forced to flee the country, persecuted.”
The couple also said in a video caption that the community should continue fighting for their rights.
“Stop being afraid and continue to defend your rights. For the sake of our future. For your sake, our beloved subscribers, giving their example hope to all loving LGBT+ hearts in the country that they are not alone. In such troubled times, when it’s so scary for many to just live and be loved, when laws come out prohibiting them as people, when not everyone can open up, they need support like never before.”
The couple was arrested during a trip to a museum with friends when police approached them. They are expected to appear in court later today, where they will be subjected to fines, and Haoyung might be deported.
Russia has implemented several laws that are perceived to be anti-LGBTQ+ in recent years. Human rights organizations and activists around the world have criticized these laws. Some of the notable laws include:
- The “gay propaganda” law: This law, passed in 2013, prohibits the promotion of “non-traditional” sexual relations to minors. Critics argue that the law effectively bans public support or discussion of LGBTQ+ issues.
- Ban on adoption by same-sex couples: In 2013, Russia passed a law prohibiting same-sex couples and unmarried individuals from adopting children.
- Criminalization of LGBTQ+ expression: In 2020, Russia passed a law that criminalizes any public display of affection or positive representation of LGBTQ+ people, which can result in fines and even imprisonment.
These laws have created a hostile climate for LGBTQ+ individuals in Russia, leading to discrimination, harassment, and violence. Many human rights organizations have called for repealing these laws and greater protections for LGBTQ+ people in Russia.