🏳️‍🌈✝️ Russian Pop Star Zelimkhan Bakaev, Tortured and Killed In Chechnya Anti-Gay Roundup

Russian Pop Star Zelimkhan Bakaev

by Will Kohler 

 Published October 21, 2017 

  Updated October 22, 2017

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As a Pastor and a Gay Man I am deeply hurt by all the torture and needless killing of LGBTQ People around the world. It is hard to fathom how people can be so cruel to each other because they refuse to accept each other just as God created us to be. As we watch in horror the killing and torture of our fellow LGBTQ around the world we need to be AWARE that changing GOVERNMENT LAWS here in AMERICA by this evil PRESIDENT is leading to a time when we too as LGBTQ PEOPLE will be outlawed, tortured and killed. The "FAKE CHRISTIAN" movement is gaining momentum in spreading lies instead of TRUTH, stirring up much HATE for LGBTQ PEOPLE even here in AMERICA. The "AMERICANIZED EVANGELICAL CHURCH" has turned the TRUTH of GODS WORD into A LIE which they use to TORTURE others they deem NOT worthy. I have news for them, WE LGBTQ are worthy because JESUS died and rose again for us too. The WORD of GOD says ALL who believe will be saved in ROMANS 10:9.

It will take all of us standing up together against the EVIL LIES to STOP the TORTURE and KILLING of LGBTQ PEOPLE around the WORLD. I pray GOD will give every LGBTQ PERSON the STRENGTH and WILLINGNESS to go ALL THE WAY in this FIGHT for LIFE. Rainbow Pastor David

Sources are reporting that Russian singer Zelimkhan Bakaev was arrested, tortured, and murdered by by Chechen authorities due to suspicion of homosexuality.”

Bakaev was last seen on August 8 in Grozny, where he had come from Moscow for his sister’s wedding.

Bakaev’s Instagram account has mysteriously been deleted, but a small Twitter account in his name remains active, offering no recent updates. Earlier this week, Igor Kocketkovof the Russian LGBT Network made a statement to the media that touched on the disappearance, saying:

“At the end of August, we received confirmation of our earlier presumption that [Bakaev] was detained by Chechen authorities due to suspicion of homosexuality.”

A source close to activists in the region have stated that  Bakaev, 26, was tortured to death. “He arrived in Grozny and was picked up by police within three hours,” they claimed. “Within ten hours he was murdered.”

Earlier this week, Maxim Lapunov became the first victim of Chechnya’s ‘gay purge’ to come forward publicly with claims of abuse at the hands of authorities.

Igor Kocketkov claimed in Monday’s press conference that other individuals in Chechnya’s entertainment industry were subjected to “torture” as the authorities attempted to gain information on Bakayev.

Our hearts break for the family and friends of Zelimkhan Bakaev and to the LGBT community of Russia and Chechnya.

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Will Kohler
Back2Stonewall.com

Will Kohler

Will Kohler is a noted LGBT historian, writer, blogger and owner of Back2Stonewall.com. A longtime gay activist, Will fought on the front lines of the AIDS epidemic with ACT-UP and continues fighting today for LGBT acceptance and full equality. Will’s work has been referenced in notable media venues as MSNBC and BBC News, The Washington Post, The Advocate, The Daily Beast, Hollywood Reporter, Raw Story, and The Huffington Post