Reports continue to come out of Chechnya about gay men being detained and killed, with allegations of a concentration camp for homosexuals in a former army base. The goal, writes Novaya Gazeta newspaper, "is the complete cleansing of Chechnya from men of non-traditional sexual orientation."

The news is heartbreaking, especially in a region where LGBT people are already marginalized, and conjures terrifying memories of Nazi atrocities committed against Jews, gays and other minorities. At a time when even the president's press secretary fails to understand the scope of these horrors, it's easy to feel hopeless in the face of such blatant terror

But it's more important than ever to stand up and figure out what we can do to help.

Check out some options below.

Sign The Petitions

LGBT activists around the world have launched petitions, calling on the Russian prosecutor general to investigate the allegations. And an Amnesty International petition calling for the end to attacks on gay men has received more than 100,000 signatures already.

Donate Money

One of the most effective things to do right now is donate money to groups on the ground, specifically the Russian LGBT Network, which works to provide emotional and legal support to queer Russians. ILGA is a worldwide federation of more than 1,200 organizations in 132 countries, campaigning for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex rights.

The Rainbow Railroad raises funds to help LGBT people leave countries where they are at risk—they have made Chechnya their top priority.

Contact Lawmakers

Join the chorus of voices calling on the State Department and U.S. Ambassador to the U.N Nikki Haley to address the crisis.

“It is beyond horrific for a country to proactively target, arrest, and abuse LGBTQ people,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD. “U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley must condemn this humanitarian crisis. As the leader of the free world, we can’t watch in silence as the world slips back to an era we should never go back to.”

Put pressure on your senators and representatives to do the same.

Email The Embassy

Let the Russian embassy in your country know you won't stand idly by. The more people that alert their ambassadors, the bigger the message we can send.

Stay Vigilant And Informed

While this horrific situation is being widely covered in LGBT media outlets, the same can't necessarily be said for more more mainstream news sources. Keep updated on the latest developments in Chechnya on this site and other outlets.

Join in demonstrations, like the recent one outside the Russian embassy in London, or follow them on social media using #CloseTheCamps and #Chechnya.

Sharing news items about the situation might not seem like much, but brings visibility to the crisis to family members, co-workers and others who may not be plugged in.