Authors

Discussion

The migration of Russian gay men to Georgia, Serbia, and Armenia has been driven by escalating anti-LGBTQ+ repression in Russia and the ongoing war in Ukraine. This comparative anthropological study examines their dating experiences in these three culturally distinct yet geopolitically connected countries. Using Kathryn Bond Stockton’s concept of “growing sideways” and insights from Other, Please Specify: Queer Methods in Sociology, the study explores how migration reshapes identity, intimacy, and relationships in non-linear ways. Data collected through interviews and ethnographic observations reveal common themes of anonymity, safety, and resilience, as well as country-specific differences in navigating local LGBTQ+ spaces and societal norms. While Georgian, Serbian, and Armenian contexts each pose unique challenges, they also offer opportunities for forging hybrid cultural identities and fostering unexpected forms of intimacy. This research contributes to queer migration studies by emphasizing the complex interplay of sexuality, displacement, and cultural adaptation in shaping intimate lives.