Authors
Emma Tarasenko1; 1 University of Manchester, UK Discussion
Following the invasion of Ukraine, the Russian government imposed hitherto unprecedented restrictions on media discourse, followed by A subsequent intensification in the rollback of gay and trans rights in 2023 (including the 2022 'gay-propaganda' law). In this context, grassroots media (especially Telegram-based) started to play a significant role in the self-representation of the Russian LGBTQ+ community. Telegram blogs, as unofficial, and legally ambiguous but widely read and recognised sources, emerged as one of the main tools of grassroots journalism for Russian-speaking LGBTQ+ creators and activists.
Using contextual analysis and a series of case studies (Centre-T, Vyhod, Parni+, Na sebya, Kit, Expats+) as an empirical base the research for this paper identified new tactics of independent journalism related to the queer agenda in Russia within the Telegram platform and an enhanced role for Telegram in Russophone queer discourse in general. The paper argues that Telegram-based blogs played a significant role in redefining the boundaries between Russian and Russophone media during the Russian-Ukrainian war, as well as providing safe spaces for the Russian-speaking LGBTQ+ community and supporting the civil rights movement in Russia.
By identifying the main tactics in queer-Telegram, such as the duality of public and private, life-story-based narrative, semi-closed discussions and educational agenda, this analysis contributes to the understanding of independent LGBTQ+ media in communities with official homophobic discourse and strict censorship. 
