A Marshall plan for LGBTQ+ people

While the Moscow raids were overblown, they signal Russia's “performative oppression” of LGBTQ+ people. We must develop a real plan for social change and economic empowerment globally.

News outlets reported that Moscow Police raided several gay clubs this weekend. While the Police incidents were overblown (see here), they are part of an apparent effort in Russia to marginalize and expel LGBTQ+ populations. What today remains “performative oppression” could quickly turn into full-blown persecution. It raises the question of what our plan is when it comes to pink migration.

This year only, we have seen militias attacking groups in Lebanon,  the harshest anti-LGBTQ+ legislation passed in Uganda, and a crackdown on civil society in China. We are witnessing a pattern where countries that have understood that the incidence of homosexuality and trans identities cannot be controlled are trying to expel their LGBTQ+ population with laws, decrees, guidelines, and regulations increasingly restricting civil and human rights.

This intent on chasing their LGBTQ+ citizens out eerily echoes dark historical chapters when Jewish people sought refuge from persecution during the 1930s without great success. During that period, only 110,000 Jewish refugees found sanctuary in the United States from Nazi-occupied territories, with another 60,000 immigrating to Palestine—a drop in the bucket.