Dear friends,
Gay men are being kidnapped and killed in Chechnya, Russia.
Over the weekend, horrifying news broke that more than 100 men have been arrested under suspicion of being gay. There are reports of people being tortured, beaten, and forced to share information about other gay men in the region. At least three men have been murdered.
The official response from Chechen authorities is that "gay people do not even exist in Chechnya."
Chechnya is a Republic within Russia's borders, but often operates under its own rulings. Openly identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender is practically unheard of, due to the deadly stigmas.
Sources are reporting that the gay men who weren't murdered have been released to their families for "honour killings."
This could be the biggest coordinated governmental attack on gay people in recent history, but it's not getting the media coverage it deserves. Partners on the ground are evacuating those still at risk, and they say the best thing we can do is get the word out and demand an investigation.
The crimes these men have faced need to be heard. If thousands of us speak out, we can help put global pressure on Russia to investigate it. But we have to act quickly.
Thanks for going All Out,
Matt, Pamela, Leandro, Sarah, Yuri, and the rest of the All Out team.
P.S. If you or someone you know in Chechnya is in need of urgent support, please contact the Russian LGBT Network by email.
