A trans activist in Russia faces abuse after a 12-year sentence for donating $10 to Ukraine. Germany warns trans travelers about U.S. entry issues, while Kenya delays a key case on decriminalizing same-sex relations.
Trans Man Faces Inhumane Treatment in Russian Prison
Mark Kislitsyn, a trans man and LGBTQ activist, is enduring “inhumane and degrading conditions” in a Russian prison after being sentenced to 12 years for treason.
According to Pink News, his crime is donating $10 to a Ukrainian bank account.
Held in a women’s penal colony, Kislitsyn faces solitary confinement, forced dress codes, and denial of gender-affirming care. Amnesty International calls his prosecution a politically motivated attack.
“Imprisoning Mark Kislitsyn ... defies common sense,” said researcher Natalia Prilutskaya.
In a letter from prison, Kislitsyn remained defiant: “Those who are trying to intimidate me ... cannot make me renounce my beliefs.”
His supporters demand his release and justice for all anti-war activists in Russia.
Germany Warns Trans Travelers About US Entry Issues
The German Reichstag in Berlin. Photo by Matthew Field, via Wikimedia Commons.
Germany issued a travel advisory for transgender and nonbinary travelers visiting the U.S., citing recent policies restricting gender identity recognition.
According to The Washington Blade, the advisory, issued on March 5, warns that President Trump’s executive order bans the State Department from issuing passports with “X” gender markers. Travelers with differing gender identities from their birth sex are urged to consult U.S. diplomatic missions before traveling.
“By erasing legal recognition of trans identities … the U.S. government is actively endangering the rights and safety of trans and nonbinary individuals,” said The Lesbian and Gay Federation of Germany, an LGBTQ and intersex rights group.
The organization is calling on the EU to take a firm stance against these policies.
LGBTQ Advocates Condemn Kenyan Court’s Indefinite Delay
Photo via Adobe.
Queer Kenyans and advocacy groups are outraged over the indefinite postponement of a crucial court case seeking to decriminalize same-sex relations. The case, pending since 2019, was set for a hearing on Feb. 5, but was delayed after Judge Fred Ochieng withdrew for “personal reasons” and respondents cited procedural concerns.
According to The Washington Blade, the remaining judges, Aggrey Muchelule and Joel Ngugi, ordered proper service of documents and referred the case for bench reconstitution. Plaintiffs, including the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (NGLHRC), GALCK+, and the Center for Minority Rights and Strategic Litigation (CMRSL), condemned the delay.
“This battle is far from over,” said GALCK+. “We will not stop fighting until love is no longer criminalized.”
Kenya’s penal code criminalizes same-sex intimacy with up to 14 years in prison. While the government argues these laws uphold family values, activists assert they fuel discrimination and human rights abuses.
“This is about our lives, our rights, and our freedom,” GALCK+ affirmed. NGLHRC vowed to continue legal challenges, while CMRSL noted police still use these laws to target LGBTQ people.
Advocates remain committed to securing equality, ensuring the case moves forward, and holding the judiciary accountable.
