This book draws on social movement theories and rich empirical data from interviews with Russian LGBT activists to analyse the emergence, development, and trajectory of LGBT protest activity in Russia, as well as the factors that have affected its trajectory. Chapters offer a critical examination of the conditions under which LGBT protest activity arises and declines in authoritarian states such as Russia—including state repression and socio-political discrimination of members of the LGBT community; policy changes that negatively affect LGBT Russians; the role of the state in Russia in professionalization of LGBT activism; and the motivations of the activists themselves. The author argues that a combination of political opportunity structures, resources, and activists’ perceptions establish necessary conditions for protesting to occur and that if any of these factors are negatively affected, then LGBT protest activity declines. The volume concludes with a discussion of the implications of LGBT activism for everyday life. weiterlesen