Masha Gessen, also known as Maria “Masha” Alexandrovna Gessen, is a journalist, author, translator, and activist of Russian and American descent.
Gessen’s outspoken criticism of Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, and Donald Trump, the former president of the United States, has earned her recognition.
They identify as nonbinary and transgender and prefer the pronouns they and their. Gessen has written extensively on the subject of LGBT liberties.
They have stated that they were likely the only openly homosexual individuals in the country for many years and are widely regarded as prominent advocates for LGBT rights in Russia.
Where Is Masha Gessen After Resigned From the PEN America Board?
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A Russian-American journalist, author, translator, and activist currently resides with their spouse and children in New York.
Between 1993 and 1998, Masha served on the board of directors of Triangle, a Moscow-based LGBT rights organization.
In addition, they volunteered for nine years on the board of PEN America, a prestigious literacy and human rights organization. In May 2023, however, the renowned journalist and author Gessen decided to resign from his position.
This action was taken in response to PEN America’s decision to withdraw an invitation for two exiled Russian authors to present at the PEN World Voices event.
Gessen served as Vice President of the Board during their tenure and will remain a member of PEN America despite their resignation.
Masha Gessen’s Net Worth before resigning
Although Masha has not disclosed their total earnings, online sources estimate their net worth to be approximately $5 million.
Gessen stated that Russia’s decline began shortly after Putin’s inauguration in 2000 and that the youthful Putin had ambitions to become a tyrant.
Between November 2011 and December 2013, they made numerous contributions to the blog “Latitude” of The New York Times, concentrating on various issues about Russia.
The introduction of laws prohibiting “homosexual propaganda,” the maltreatment and physical assault of journalists, and the devaluation of the Russian ruble were among the topics discussed.
In March of 2013, Russian politician Vitaly Milonov supported a prohibition on foreign adoption of Russian children by implying Masha’s family was an example of a perverted household Americans would establish if allowed to adopt Russian children.
Family of Masha Gessen
Masha was born in Moscow to Alexander and Yelena Gessen, who are both of Jewish descent.
Ester Goldberg, their paternal grandmother, was born in Bialystok, Poland, in 1923. She migrated to Moscow in 1940 as the daughter of a socialist mother and a Zionist father.
Jakun Goldberg, the father of Ester, was a victim of the Holocaust and was murdered in 1943, either in the Bialystok Ghetto or a concentration center.
Ruzya Solodovnik, Gessen’s maternal grandmother, was born in Russia and worked as a censor for the Stalinist government.
During an antisemitic cleansing, however, she was removed from her position. Samuil, the maternal grandfather of Masha, was a devoted Bolshevik who died during World War II, leaving Ruzya to raise Yelena, Gessen’s mother, alone.
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