Queer identity has been suppressed and marginalized for centuries, even though it is an integral part of human experience. From ancient Greek times until today, societies have attempted to control and limit who can love whom and how they express their desires. In the past hundred years, many groups around the world have mobilized to fight against homophobia and heteronormativity, often at great personal risk. Queer people living under totalitarian regimes have had to find unique ways to preserve memory, resist erasure, and build collective identity, which have helped shape queer communities today. This essay will explore some strategies used by Soviet-era queer communities to create community, culture, and resistance despite extreme oppression.
In the former Soviet Union, queerness was criminalized and punishable by law. The state monitored and persecuted anyone suspected of being LGBTQ+, including sending them to labor camps or psychiatric hospitals. Homosexuality was classified as a mental illness until 1987, when it was declassified as such. Queer people were forced into hiding and secrecy, forming small networks of friends and lovers. They created spaces where they could safely meet each other and share experiences without fear of arrest or violence. These networks became hubs of support, education, and activism.
The Russian LGBT Network provides legal and social services to LGBTQ+ individuals in Russia, helping with housing, employment, healthcare, and advocacy.
In addition to building physical spaces, queer people also created literary works that challenged normative narratives about gender and sexuality. Writers like Vladimir Nabokov, Andrei Bely, and Marina Tsvetaeva wrote about nontraditional relationships in their novels and poetry. These texts provided an outlet for expressing desires that would otherwise be silenced, allowing queer people to see themselves reflected in art. Some writers even used code words or veiled metaphors to evoke homoeroticism, subverting censorship and creating hidden meanings within the text. This creativity helped preserve memory and challenge authority.
Another strategy used by Soviet-era queer communities was collective action. Groups like the Moscow Gay Liberation Front organized protests and demonstrations against discrimination, demanding recognition and equality. While these actions often led to arrests and imprisonments, they also raised awareness and built solidarity among queer people across the country. In some cases, queer people formed secret societies, engaging in civil disobedience and political resistance. The "Comrades" were a network of gay men who distributed underground newspapers and fought back against government persecution. Their actions helped inspire other groups to resist and organize, laying the foundation for today's queer movements.
Queer communities in the former USSR found ways to create community and culture despite repression. They built networks of support, developed literature, and engaged in direct action. These strategies helped them preserve memory, resist erasure, and build identity, laying the groundwork for contemporary LGBTQ+ activism. By remembering our history, we can honor those who came before us and continue to fight for justice and liberation.
What strategies have emerged from Soviet-era queer communities to preserve memory, resist erasure, and build collective identity under oppressive regimes?
Soviet-era queer communities developed a variety of strategies to maintain their identities and resist state repression. One common strategy was to create alternative spaces where they could gather safely, such as private residences or secret venues like gay bars. These spaces allowed for communal support, solidarity, and political organizing, while also providing opportunities for romantic connections.