"The human rights potential of sports is very underestimated"

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While the Russian authorities are banning any mention of LGBT+ communities, LGBT+ Sports are gaining popularity in the world. Competitions in which Quir-Sportsmen take part, become an alternative to high achievements. LGBT+ sports are based on the idea of cooperation and mutual support, not competition.

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Ingorevna Ingorevna

At the end of last year, Vladimir Putin signed the law introducing the “prohibition of propaganda of non -traditional sexual relations and sex change” among citizens_ok of all ages.

Previously, such a ban was valid only in relation to minors. For violation of the new law, individuals face a fine of up to 400 thousand rubles, and legal - up to 10 million. In January 2023, the first case of violation of this ban was instituted : State Duma deputy Alexander Khinshtein wrote a complaint about the work of the PopCorn BOOKS publishing house, which released the popular novel Summer in the Pioneer Tie. According to the expert, the definition of “propaganda” in the law is so vague that anyone can be held accountable, including simply for mentioning LGBT+ communities.

Meanwhile, for twelve years in Russia there has been the Russian LGBT sport Federation. It was founded in 2010 by several activist_k, who took part in the Euro -players - the main European competitions in LGBT+ sports held in Cologne. The founders of the LGBT sport federation decided that similar competitions should be held in Russia. The first large event was timed to the Olympics in Sochi, when an athlete and tourist from different countries came to the country.

“Already in 2014, the situation was tense. There was a lot of state pressure. There were no flags at the events, the competitions were not held in the center [Moscow]. Basketball competitions were disrupted, I myself had to participate in them. A foreign athlete came there, who came to the Olympics to support us. Someone threw a smoke into the hall, we all ran out into the street, the police arrived. It was terrible, and everyone felt what state pressure was, even if you do not make any statements and not to go out with LGBT+ flag on Red Square, ”says Alena, President of the Russian Federation, a member of the Board of Directors of the European Federation of LGBT Sports .

After that, almost all the events of the Russian Federation LGBT+ sports tried to disrupt.

“Until recently, we held rally, festivals, competitions. People need a safe space. The fact that the events are trying to disrupt is an indicator that we are doing something significant. These events are a fairly unique thing, they really allow people to temporarily forget that we have a “magical” state with “magical” laws outside this space. Almost always the holding of events is associated with the fact that they are torn, the sites are not leased, some incidents take place in the process ... But we are very grateful to all the participants who, despite all this, agree to conduct these events and actively participate in them, including in the regions. This consolidates us in a sense. But, of course, every time, trying to create a safe space for the participation of the competition, we are faced with the fact that this is almost impossible, unfortunately. ”

An important and bright moment Alena calls the World Cup in 2018. Then in Moscow they installed the DIVERSITY HOUSE, and the participation of the community was invited to official events.

“Even then, we thought that it was all too good and the situation will deteriorate. So it happened: attacks on our events became even more systemic. We held the last event in the fall of 2022, but we do not know what will happen next. In 2023, we canceled the annual winter festival due to threats from homophobic organizations. The safety of our participants is in the first place. ”

"I fell in love with a state that I am a free person"

“I was 28 years old when I first got into international LGBT+ Badminton competitions. One guy called me there, who in ordinary competitions guessed that I was gay, and began to persuade me to go. He persuaded me for a year, and so we went to the tournament in Croatia. I was just dumbfounded: as if all 28 years were deceived. I fell in love with a state that I am a free person, everything was so different there: freedom, love, communication. Girls hold hands, you do not need to guess who is who, or hide themselves, ”Ilya recalls.

In Russia, Ilya worked as a physical education teacher at school and could not openly talk about his orientation. For several years he participated in ordinary and LGBT+competitions in Russia.

“At LGBT+ competitions in Russia, you are more liberated, you will meet people that you would rarely meet in other places. For example, before participating in LGBT+ events, I talked very little with Lesbian girls, I was very interested in getting to know them. In Europe, completely different, everything is open here. But in Russia, these trips and competitions create a huge contrast with the rest of their lives, they were especially warm. ”

According to Ilya, he was very inspired by participating in these competitions and began to perform more and more often at LGBT+ events: he played basketball and volleyball.

“After the first tournament in Croatia, I went to a tournament in Germany, to Nuremberg. I even sponsored some part of the tickets. And again I felt this freedom, and then again returned to Russia and had to wear a mask and hide. At international competitions, everyone was very happy and welcomed the participation of athletes from Russia. ”

At one of the LGBT+ tournaments, Ilya met his future partner. Soon he moved to Germany, where they made a marriage.

“We then fell in love, and I did not particularly know either English or German, talked through the translator in the phone. Then he came to me three times, and in the end we signed in Germany. ”

Now Ilya lives in Hamburg and trains children, organizes sports tournaments and does not hide his orientation.

“Now I am playing for the local LGBT+ club, and for the usual one. Already under the flag of Germany. I generally have the citizenship of Belarus, and I darted for a long time, but now I have been coming from Germany, since I have been living here for a long time and this country has given me a lot, ”says the athlete.

What are LGBT+ competitions?

Homophilic authorities of different countries can have a strong influence on large international sports competitions. For example, at the last world football championship, which was held in Qatar, promotions were banned in support of LGBT+ communities, rainbow dressings at the athletes_k and did not establish the traditional Pride House-the place of support for the Quirry community, which is regularly opened at the world championships.

“LGBT+ sport is an amateur sport, not for sports achievements, but primarily for the formation of a community. In my opinion, the human rights potential of sports is very underestimated. And such events are trying to fix this, ”says Alena, President of the LGBT+ sports Federation of Russia.

In the world there are two largest sports LGBT+ events - European Eurogras and World Gaygames - an analogue of the Olympic Games. It can take part in the Euro -players everyone. You can also get financial assistance to cover the cost of tickets, participation and residence.

“The main thing is the unification of the participants. The idea of a healthy lifestyle and careful sport to maintain health is more important than sports achievements. If a person is engaged in badminton for himself, he will go to the segment for beginners, if he is more seriously engaged and trains - in the segment for advanced players. But the places and prizes are not the main thing here, ”Alena explains.

Now the main difficulty for participating in Euro games is to obtain visas. However, everyone can register and request visa support and financial assistance to participate in euro games in Bern.

LGBT+ Sports for self -defense

LGBT+ sport is often developing thanks to lower initiatives. Lucas Laxi is an open gay living in Krakow. Two years ago, he organized in the city self -defense courses for LGBT+ people.

“Before that, I went to volleyball courses for LGBT+ people, and I liked it. But at some point I decided that I want to engage in self-defense in order to protect myself in case of danger. Then I went to classes that organized the local community Anarchistoy_k. They were friendly, and I had no problems with them, but still I wanted to attend courses for LGBT+ people, ”says Lucas.

After that, Lucas for a long time was looking for a coach who would agree to conduct such classes and share the values of LGBT+ communities.

“I interviewed my acquaintances and eventually found a person who was ready to take up this work. It is important to note that we cannot pay for the work in the same way as other centers, since we exist for donations. There are people who cannot pay at all: this is especially true for transgender people who are difficult to find a job. And there are those who can pay and make contributions more. Classes go in two groups: via kickboxing and self -defense. ”

In groups, people of different genders and ages are engaged in groups to ensure inclusive courses. The organizers do not hide, but do not advertise classes - with each new participation, Lucas previously conducts a brief conversation to ensure the safety of classes. Now about 20 people go to lessons. All, except one, is a representative of LGBT+ communities. Another young man is a heterosexual who simply joined his studies. This is not prohibited if the person shares the values of the club.

“So far we have no problems with the authorities or homophobes, but so far. Everyone can happen, ”says Lucas.

***

“Participation in sports is important for everyone, and LGBT+ the community is no exception. Finding a community that takes you is what lies at the heart of any hobby. Association into sports teams allows you to meet with people similar to you to do something for a local community, ”explains Olga Doletskaya, PhD in the University College London, in Russia a homophobic and authoritarian state forbids representatives of LGBT+ communities to engage in any collective projects. In such conditions, membership in the Quirry team may be one of the safest ways to communicate in the team. ”

According to the researcher, the sports environment and sports communities are very aggressive to people with any distinctive features. The value of LGBT+ sports is that it allows you to create a safe and inclusive space for people of different genders, types of bodies, people with disabilities and so on.

“Ordinary sports teams are often inelerant of people with any differences. In LGBT+ sports, on the contrary, the participants together create a safe space, Safe Space, ”says Olga.