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personal stories

Maria came out to hostile parents and sought ComingOut’s therapy to ease her anxiety. It helped her move forward despite family fights. Then she saw her mother physically abusing her younger brother. To save him, Maria filed to remove parental rights and become his guardian—knowing Russian courts discriminate against LGBTQ+ people. ComingOut’s lawyers guided evidence collection and court prep. “I know I can always turn to them,” she says. Now preparing for hearings, Maria fights for her brother’s safety. Your donations empower queer families like hers to protect their loved ones.

Yaroslav met a man on a gay dating app and went to his apartment—carrying 900,000 rubles for his mortgage. It was a trap: three fake police burst in, beat him, and extorted his cash, threatening jail and media exposure. Police dismissed his report. ComingOut answered his call. Our attorneys got CCTV footage, arranged Ministry of Internal Affairs meetings, identified the criminals, and helped him recover his money plus moral damages. The robbers got suspended sentences and six months in jail. “ComingOut guided me through every stage,” Yaroslav says. “I got my life back.” Thanks to supporters like you, we turn victims into victors.

Sara figured out she was trans in school but kept it secret from her transphobic parents. At 18, she moved out, changed her documents, started hormones, and found love. But when her parents learned about her transition, they lured her into a car and drove her to a clinic for “treatment.” Locked in a cell-like ward, Sara signed papers under pressure and faced nightmares. She escaped, contacted ComingOut, and now—with our lawyers—is suing both the clinic and her parents for kidnapping. “I finally feel protected,” she says. Therapy helps her heal, and our support ensures she fights for justice. Your donations make stories like Sara’s possible.

Igor grew up in a rural village hiding his attraction to men, living a “normal” life until he couldn’t anymore. In 2022, he publicly came out on Instagram, facing homophobic comments and scammers on dating sites. ComingOut’s materials taught him to spot frauds; our lawyers advised on police reports despite anti-LGBT laws. When family rejection and relationship stress hit, our psychologists helped him and his partner rebuild. Now Igor lives openly, feels confident, and credits us for calming his panic. “ComingOut is a ray of sunlight against the backdrop of a cancerous tumor in the country,” he says. Your support gives people like Igor the tools to thrive.