Russian Man Faces Prosecution for Queen Photo Deemed ‘LGBT Propaganda’

In a case highlighting Russia’s strict laws against LGBTQ+ expression, a 22-year-old Moscow resident faced legal consequences for sharing an image of the legendary rock band Queen from their iconic “I Want To Break Free” music video on social media.

David Gevondyan was prosecuted in March of last year for allegedly spreading “LGBT propaganda” on VK, a popular European social media platform. The case gained attention when, during his appeal, it was revealed that the primary image in question featured members of Queen in their famous drag costumes from the 1984 music video.

In the video, which became controversial even in Western countries at the time of its release, band members Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon parodied the British soap opera “Coronation Street” by dressing in women’s clothing. The video was partially banned on MTV in America but has since become a celebrated part of music video history.

Gevondyan contested the charges, arguing that the band’s costume choices in the music video were artistic expression and did not constitute propaganda promoting LGBTQ+ lifestyles. However, the Russian court rejected his defense.

According to independent Russian news outlet Verstka, the court specifically noted that Gevondyan’s social media page also contained other content deemed problematic under Russia’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws, including “photos of men kissing and men dressed in miniskirts.” The combination of these images led to an undisclosed fine.

In its ruling, the court explicitly dismissed the cultural and artistic context of the Queen image, stating: “The posting of a photograph of Queen members dressed in women’s clothing on the website has no musical connotation, given the general meaning of the information disseminated by D. M. Gevondyan.”

The court’s decision further emphasized what it considered broader societal implications, claiming that “public approval and the promotion of the attractiveness of non-traditional sexual relations is dangerous not only for children and young people who are not yet capable of critical thinking, but also for society as a whole, as it poses a threat to the country’s demographic growth and economic development.”

This case represents one of many prosecutions under Russia’s expanding anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. In 2013, the country enacted a law banning “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations” among minors. The law was later broadened in 2022 to prohibit any public expression or promotion of LGBTQ+ identities or relationships to Russians of all ages.

Human rights organizations have repeatedly condemned these laws as violations of basic freedoms of expression and as tools to suppress Russia’s LGBTQ+ community. The legislation has created a chilling effect on cultural expression, with many international artists, films, and media facing censorship or outright bans.

Queen’s music and legacy carries particular significance in this context. Freddie Mercury, the band’s lead vocalist who died from AIDS-related complications in 1991, never publicly came out during his lifetime but has become an important LGBTQ+ icon posthumously. The band’s theatrical performances and boundary-pushing aesthetics challenged gender norms throughout their career.

The “I Want To Break Free” video itself has been interpreted by many as having subtextual commentary on freedom of expression and identity, making its censorship in this case particularly symbolic of broader cultural and political tensions surrounding LGBTQ+ rights in Russia.