A Russian poetry competition, the Andrei Dementyev All-Russian Poetry Prize, organized by the government of the Tver region in western Russia, has recently banned transgender individuals from submitting entries. The competition, which is open to poets regardless of nationality, profession, or place of residence, explicitly excludes citizens who have changed their gender. The organizers claim that this decision is aimed at protecting traditional Russian values related to marriage, family, motherhood, fatherhood, and childhood. This move is part of a broader crackdown on LGBTQ rights in Russia, with the government portraying LGBTQ rights as a Western imposition that threatens traditional values.
Under President Vladimir Putin’s administration, Russia has targeted LGBTQ rights, designating the international LGBTQ social movement as extremist and those supporting it as terrorists. Transgender individuals have been particularly impacted, with the government banning gender change surgery and hormone therapy, as well as preventing trans people from adopting or fostering children. The ban on transgender participation in the poetry prize is seen as a reflection of the broader societal trend to align with the Kremlin’s stance on various social issues. According to Nef Cellarius, program coordinator for Russian LGBTQ rights group Vykhod, local officials often showcase their loyalty to the Kremlin by publicly condemning anything that Putin disapproves of.
The organizers of the Andrei Dementyev All-Russian Poetry Prize did not provide a specific explanation for excluding transgender individuals from the competition. Previous competitions did not have a ban on trans participants, leading to questions about the sudden change in policy. The prize, named after a local Soviet-Russian poet, awards works of “undeniable artistic merit” and “universal moral values.” Despite the lack of justification for the ban, the organizers did not respond to requests for comment. The exclusion of transgender people from the competition adds to the growing marginalization and discrimination faced by the LGBTQ community in Russia.
The ban on transgender individuals in the poetry competition is part of a larger pattern of restrictive measures targeting the LGBTQ community in Russia. Local officials often align themselves with the Kremlin’s stance on social issues, leading to the implementation of discriminatory policies such as the exclusion of transgender people from public events like poetry competitions. The crackdown on LGBTQ rights in Russia reflects a broader effort to suppress non-traditional gender identities and sexual orientations, portraying them as a threat to traditional Russian values. The ban on trans participants in the poetry prize highlights the challenges faced by the LGBTQ community in Russia, where their rights continue to be infringed upon and their voices silenced.
As Russian authorities continue to tighten restrictions on LGBTQ rights, transgender people are increasingly marginalized and stripped of their rights. The ban on transgender participation in the Andrei Dementyev All-Russian Poetry Prize is just one example of the discrimination faced by the LGBTQ community in Russia. The government’s crackdown on LGBTQ rights, including the designation of the international LGBTQ social movement as extremist, has created a hostile environment for LGBTQ individuals and their advocates. Despite the ban on transgender individuals in the poetry competition, LGBTQ rights groups in Russia continue to fight for equality and recognition, challenging the repressive policies enforced by the government.
