The Fight for LGBTQ+ Rights in Eastern Europe

Black Diplomats takes a deep dive into the global struggle for human rights with an episode about LGBTQ+ pride in Russia and Eastern Europe. As activists build their movement, they watch government propaganda, religious authorities, and far-right extremists join together to protest every step toward equality, often with violent results. Pride parades are celebrations in many places around the world, but in Georgia and other former Soviet states Pride is still dangerous and rainbow flags are an act of rebellion.

Our guests today are three of the loudest rebels. Mariam Kvaratskhelia is an organizer with Tblisi Pride, Svetlana Zakharova is a Russian activist fighting on multiple fronts, and journalist Maksym Eristavi is carrying the narrative of their movement all over the world. Host Terrell J. Starr marched in the Kyiv Pride parade in 2019, where he planned to meet up with Eristavi in person, but the crowd was too big for them to find each other.

They agreed this was a good problem to have.

This brilliant panel talks about the battle for civil rights, how the Black Lives Matter and Pride movements intersect, and what self-care means when you’re a protestor…in a pandemic.

Svetlana Zakharova

Co-Secretary, ILGA-Europe

Svetlana Zakharova is a feminist, LGBTQI activist and human rights defender based in Russia.

She holds two MA degrees, in International Relations and Gender Studies. Svetlana has five years of work experience with Russian LGBT Network, the largest LGBT organisation in Russia as a Communications Manager. Since November 2017, she is a Board member of the Russian LGBT Network.

Follow her work with IGLA-Europe here.

Mariam Kvaratskhelia

Organizer - Tblisi Pride

Mariam Kvaratskhelia has dedicated herself to LGBTQI advocacy and rights campaigns. As an organizer with Tblisi Pride she is on the frontlines, and often meets with other activists around Europe to network their movement for change. Read more about Pride in Georgia here.

Keep up with Mariam on Twitter.

Maksym Eristavi

Research Fellow - The Atlantic Council

Maksym Eristavi is a journalist and human rights advocate in Eastern Europe. Featured on NowThis, Gaycation by VICE, Voice of America, BILD, and many others, Maksym explores the intersection of identity politics, disinformation, and Russian colonialism. He has traveled widely and spoken about his work in the UK and Sweden, and at a hearing of the United States Senate. 

To find out more about Maksym go to his website.

Or follow him on Twitter.