On a remote farm in Siberia, a man handed Ada a knife and told her to castrate a pig to understand what her surgery would mean. Ada, 23 and transgender, had been tricked into going to a conversion therapy center after coming out to her family.
She says a relative asked her to accompany her to Novosibirsk for heart surgery, but instead, she was taken to a remote location. Ada’s relative jumped out of the car, and the driver demanded her smartwatch and phone, saying they would “cure” her.
Ada realized she wasn’t just there for a short stay when a parcel of warm clothes arrived two weeks later. She was forced to take testosterone, pray, and do manual labor. When confronted with the pig, she had a panic attack and couldn’t go through with it.
Nine months later, she escaped using a phone left lying around and called the police. They rescued her, saying she was being held against her will.
The BBC contacted the center, but they denied any knowledge of conversion therapy programs. Ada’s relative did not respond.
Ada’s time there was the lowest point in her battle for acceptance, facing family rejection, societal discrimination, and Russia’s harsh LGBT laws. According to UN expert Graeme Reid, transgender people in Russia have had their rights systematically eroded, particularly after a law banning gender reassignment surgery.
This new legislation also prevented people from changing personal details on documents, but Ada was one of the last to get her name officially changed before the law took effect in July 2023.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, President Putin has attacked LGBT rights, claiming to protect traditional values. At the end of 2023, Russia’s justice ministry labeled the “international LGBT movement” as an extremist organization, leading to severe penalties for any related activities.
After escaping, Ada moved to Moscow and offered shelter to other transgender people. However, the new laws forced her to leave Russia for Europe.
Francis, who left Russia in 2018, faced similar struggles. Authorities took his adopted children after he began transitioning, leading his family to flee to Spain.
Ally, who is non-binary, left Russia after the invasion of Ukraine. They decided to have a mastectomy but kept it secret from close family.
In Russia, changing documents is no longer possible, causing issues for those like Francis who transitioned before the new law.
Living abroad as a Russian transgender person adds another layer of complexity, as both their identity and nationality can lead to discrimination. Ada says all the trans community wants is to be able to live without fear of violence and just be themselves.
This account and its perspectives are based on reporting by BBC.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cl7yk2l925xo