The Emergence and Development of LGBT Protest Activity in Russia

This book draws on social movement theories and rich empirical data to analyze LGBT protest activity in Russia. It offers a critical examination of the conditions under which LGBT protest activity arises and declines in authoritarian states - including state repression and socio-political discrimination of LGBT people; policy changes that negatively affect the LGBT community; and the motivations of the activists themselves. The author argues that a combination of political opportunity structures, resources, and activists’ perceptions establish necessary conditions for protesting. If any of these factors are negatively affected, then LGBT activists would not be motivated to protest. The volume concludes with a discussion of the implications of Russian LGBT activism in hostile conditions.

This book will be of interest to scholars engaged in human rights, social movement studies, gender studies, LGBT rights, and post-Soviet politics and societies.

"Buyantueva offers social movement scholars an in-depth look at the intricate landscape of contemporary Russian LGBT activism (2005-2019), as well as the extensive state repression of it. Her book is an important and timely read for anyone wanting to better understand the challenges of navigating LGBT activism under authoritarianism. Understanding the Russian LGBT movement also teaches us much about Russia today more generally, given the increasingly interwoven nature of gender and sexuality in so many facets of its identity and politics." (Phillip M. Ayoub, Professor of Political Science at University College London, UK, author of When States Come Out)

“Radzhana Buyantueva provides a nuanced and comprehensive history of Russian LGBT activism in the past two decades. By innovatively drawing together rich theoretical frameworks of social movements and empirical data on protest activities of LGBT groups from capitals and the regions, the book offers a compelling explanation of the emergence, development, and decline of LGBT protest activity in authoritarian states such as Russia. Buyantueva highlights the ups and downs in the uneasy fight of LGBT people for their rights in relation to escalating state-sponsored homophobia of Putin’s Russia and availability of solidarity and support. This book will be of interest not only to political and social science scholars but to a wider public looking for understanding of LGBTQI+ activism in Russia.” (Marianna Muravyeva, Professor of Russian Law, University of Helsinki, Finland)

Radzhana Buyantueva is a postdoctoral researcher of Le Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique affiliated with the Centre d’Etude de la Vie Politique at the Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium. She has a Ph.D. in Politics from Newcastle University, UK.