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GayCityNews.com | MARCH 24 - APRIL 7, 2022
BY MATT TRACY
Members of a Russianspeaking
LGBTQ group
hoisted Ukrainian Flags
in the air and repeatedly
called President Vladimir Putin a
“war criminal” as they marched along
Brooklyn’s Riegelmann Boardwalk on
March 19 in a show of solidarity with
Ukraine.
RUSA LGBTQ+, a local community
of queer Russian speakers and immigrants
from former parts of the Soviet
Union, organized the march and rally
in Brighton Beach to show the local
residents the importance of supporting
Ukrainians during Russia’s ongoing
assault. For decades, Brighton Beach
has been home to countless immigrants
from Russia and several other
eastern European countries — hence
its nickname of “Little Odessa.”
Marchers stepped off from the Coney
Island section of the boardwalk and
walked east to Brighton Beach, stopping
several times to sing and dance
to Ukrainian music.
As the march progressed, chants
of “No Putin, no war!” and “Get out
of Ukraine!” reverberated down the
boardwalk — rare sounds in an otherwise
sleepy neighborhood — and pedestrians
frequently stopped to record
videos or clap along.
The event somewhat resembled the
annual Brighton Beach Pride March,
which is hosted by RUSA LGBTQ+ and
similarly involves a march and rally
along the boardwalk. This time around,
the march concluded on the boardwalk
across from Tatiana’s, a beachfront
Russian restaurant in Brighton
Beach. Folks then huddled around a
bench for a series of speeches.
“Russian people did not start the war
with Ukraine,” said Yelena Goltsman,
who serves as the co-president of RUSA
LGBTQ+. “It was Putin who did it. Let’s
make sure we separate the two.”
Councilmember Ari Kagan, who
hails from Belarus and represents
Bensonhurst, Coney Island, Gravesend,
and Sea Gate, drew applause
as he delivered remarks to the crowd.
Attorney General Letitia James also
relayed a message of support.
The march was the latest of many
demonstrations opposing Russia’s invasion
of Ukraine. The boardwalk has
hosted other similar protests in recent
weeks and LGBTQ Ukrainians organized
a large rally at the Stonewall Inn
on February 27.
Matt Tracy
LGBTQ advocates march along the boardwalk in Coney Island in solidarity with Ukraine.
ACTIVISM
RUSA LGBTQ Marches for Ukraine in Brighton Beach
Queer Russian speakers gather in southern Brooklyn to denounce Putin’s war
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/GayCityNews.com
