Rescuing independent LGBT Russian language media

Dear supporters,

We are deeply grateful for your continued solidarity. Thanks to your help, Parni+ remains a crucial source of information and support for LGBTQ+ people in Russia and the region — especially during times of escalating repression.

Context update:

In Q2 2025, state-sponsored persecution of LGBTQ+ people in Russia intensified further. New amendments to so-called “anti-LGBT propaganda” laws have made even more expressions of queer identity criminalized. This has impacted not only our audience, but also our team.

Two of our journalists were fined a total of three times this quarter simply for their work. In a shocking act of intimidation, a brick was thrown through the window of the apartment where one journalist’s elderly mother lives. These attacks are intended to silence us — but we continue to speak.

Despite these challenges, we achieved the following:

• Published 98 news stories and 39 in-depth articles — slightly fewer than in Q1 due to increased risks for authors inside Russia.

• Continued to provide individual support via our peer consultant and psychologist, helping LGBTQ+ people navigate trauma, migration, isolation, and mental health.

• Held regular online peer support groups, including specialized sessions based on the SMART Recovery program for those experiencing addiction or compulsive behaviors.

We also continued our partnerships with independent pro-democracy media, helping increase queer visibility and allyship in broader civil society.

Impact:

• Around 320 people received direct help through consultations and support groups.

• Our informational materials reached an estimated 800,000 unique users online, providing essential knowledge, visibility, and emotional support.

Your donations keep us going — not just as a media platform, but as a lifeline. Thank you for standing with us in this dangerous time.

With gratitude,

The Parni+ Team