#sorry OP for going on a rant as an Eastern European

[palominocorn]

Tags by @honestlyvan:

#Mmm. There's a lot of Russophobia I hear at work and just. Around#And a lot of times I want to scream at the people saying it like 'do you realise how much their government hates its people'#'do you know how many Russians actively need to get out for their own safety'#But the borders are closed now and I'm just. It just fills me with such hopelessness

The thing that people forget is that any totalitarian, genocidal, or otherwise brutal government will practice on its own people before it starts hostilities with foreign countries.

Now, "its own people" usually means undesirables. Racial and religious minorities. Sex workers, drug users, houseless people. Disabled people. Criminals and political dissidents. Queers.

Not every Russian agrees with the actions of the Russian government; if you've ever wanted to scream at the wall over some horrible decision your elected officials (or "elected" officials, do y'all have any freaking idea how bloody rigged Russian elections are) made, you should understand that.

Do people understand that not every Russian is a straight white oligarch? There are queer people, disabled people, Jews, Muslims, racial and ethnic minorities, and other marginalized people in Russia. All of whom have been at risk for harassment, state violence, and brutal murder for years, who have been living in terror for years, and who are now in more danger, and have no real way out at this point!

But I guess it's easier to pretend all Russians are violent bigots who fully support genocide than to have compassion for people who, through no fault of their own, are at risk of state repression.

It's honestly frustrating that I've seen non-Russian queer people almost bragging about how they would be illegal in Russia, labeled an extremist or terrorist. Russian queers are in danger, their government has made it clear where it stands, and it's made this effort for the better part of a decade (even longer, perhaps). This will kill people, don't mistake this for a quirky little proclamation from a government, akin to somebody saying the sky is pink. Russian queer people were already expressing their fear, and the least we can do now is express our love for them, and advocate with them.

Russian queer people, I love you. I love you all so much. I am so sorry, I cannot begin to express the grief that I feel, and I hope that you are safe. Words cannot encapsulate how I feel as a non-Russian, and I cannot hope to comprehend how it feels to actually be in this situation.