Russia Fines People for “Looking Too Gay” in Police Raid on Tula Nightclub

At least seven individuals were fined by Russian authorities for “looking too gay” during a police raid on a nightclub in Tula in February, according to The Telegraph on January 1.

The operation, carried out by officers in military-style uniforms and helmets, led to the detention of at least eight people. Police charged them with “trying to arouse interest in non-traditional sexual relations,” a crime in Russia under laws that have targeted LGBT expressions for a decade.

Authorities provided detailed descriptions of the detainees’ outfits, which they claimed promoted a “non-traditional sexual lifestyle,” like the one they described as a “man dressed in pink socks, an unbuttoned kimono, bright orange hair, and red facial tattoos.”

Judges ruled that such clothing was inconsistent with the “image of a man of traditional sexual orientation” and amounted to promoting non-traditional relationships.

One man, a bartender, successfully avoided a fine by arguing that his appearance, including turquoise hair and piercings, was part of his goth subculture.

Fines for the Tula detainees reportedly ranged up to 50,000 roubles ($450), with details of some court rulings remaining unpublished.

Earlier, the Russian State Duma passed a law, in both its second and final third readings, prohibiting the adoption of Russian children by citizens of countries where “gender transition” is permitted.