Russia’s Supreme Court has banned LGBTQ+ activism in a landmark decision Amnesty International blasted as “shameful and absurd.” The ruling, which asserts the “international LGBTQ movement” is extremist, threatens to further endanger already-persecuted communities. This is transgender activist Ada Blakewell.

Ada Blakewell: “I escaped from a conversion camp just over a half a year ago. I was kidnapped. They tried to cure me for a year. They tried to convince me that I was not a transgender woman. They failed, de facto. After the adoption of this lawsuit, I will not be able to talk about conversion therapy. It will be forbidden for me because it will be associated with the LGBT topic. I will not be able to help a large number of people. All trans activists, many queer activists have already left Russia. I am one of the last, apparently, who have remained in Russia. What to do next? The only option I know is to leave.”