Russia bans a prominent LGBTQ+ rights group as extremist in a new blow to the beleaguered community

A Russian court has banned a prominent LGBTQ+ rights group and has labeled it as extremist in the latest step in the country’s crackdown on the community. On Tuesday, a St. Petersburg court held a closed hearing and banned the Coming Out group. No details of the lawsuit against the group that Russia’s Justice Ministry filed last month have been released. The group now works from outside Russia and said that they would continue helping LGBTQ+ people in Russia and beyond. Under President Vladimir Putin, Russia has significantly curtailed LGBTQ+ rights in recent years, including by banning any gender-affirming care.