LGBTQ Christians in Russia keep their faith despite Orthodox Church condemnation
In Russia, where the "LGBT movement" was declared extremist in November 2023, queer believers and supportive priests are finding ways to reconcile faith and sexuality. The account comes from the LGBTQ outlet Just Got Lucky, reporting for Meduza.
For almost three years, LGBTQ people in Russia have effectively lived outside the law: on November 30, 2023, the authorities labeled the nonexistent "LGBT movement" "extremist." The Russian Orthodox Church has joined the state's campaign, and for believers, pressure from the church can be even more painful. The LGBTQ outlet Just Got Lucky spoke with queer worshippers and the priests who support them for Meduza. Some names have been changed for safety reasons.
The church's position
In December 2023, the Vatican allowed Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples, stressing that this did not amount to endorsing same-sex marriage. The Russian Orthodox Church called the decision a sharp departure from Christian moral teaching. As early as 2013, Patriarch Kirill described Western recognition of same-sex unions as a harbinger of the end of the world. In 2021, church spokesman Vakhtang Kipshidze said queer people would be accepted only if they repented of their "sin." No one knows how many queer Russians attend church, as no such statistics exist.
A congregation in apartments
Father Konstantin (not his real name) leads an Old Catholic community that holds services in members' homes. He is openly gay, and many in his congregation are openly queer. The group has no website or social media because of the risk of persecution; services in residential spaces are banned, so the choice is between being fined and compromising one's conscience. Konstantin baptizes, gives Communion and conducts church weddings for couples whose marriages neither the state nor the official churches recognize. He hopes the Orthodox Church will one day find the courage to support LGBTQ people.
Elena's story
Elena (not her real name) considers herself an Orthodox Christian and pansexual. She says her religious upbringing made accepting her orientation harder, and that in her youth she entered relationships she did not want. She is now convinced God loves her. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, she attends a church only if she is sure its community opposes the war, so she mostly prays at home and feels closest to the Old Believers.
