'Progress is possible after Putin falls': Transnistria's LGBT community fights for its voice
unrecognised territory between Moldova and Ukraine, announced its independence from Moldova in 1990 and has since become known as one of several post-Soviet frozen conflict zones.
While the Transnistria War ceasefire ended the armed military conflict more than 30 years ago, the republic is not internationally recognised.Another holdover from the Soviet-era is Transnistria’s attitude towards LGBT rights.
Same-sex sexual activity was legalised in 2002, with this being one of few rights afforded to LGBT people in the territory. Not only is discussion of homosexuality in this breakaway region, also known as Pridnestrovie, a long-standing taboo but there is no visual representation of LGBT people in society.Viewed by many in Transnistria as an abhorrent deviation from the norm, openly gay and lesbian people face abuse ranging from threats and verbal attacks to violent assaults.“In schools, people are getting bullied for information they share on social media, especially for gay men.
There are stories from our friends that guys are getting attacked and beaten inside schools by the teachers and classmates,” Shamshurova adds.Members of the LGBT community, and allies who advocate for their rights, have been intimidated.In 2017 when photographer Carolina Dutca announced the ‘No Silence' exhibition to shed light on the situation of LGBT people in Transnistria, the KGB spoke to her and pressured her to cancel the event, she has said.
