are a very useful group to make into a public enemy #1. If you have a public enemy #1, you can blame them for everything that is wrong and divert the public’s attention from the real social, economic and political problems of the country,” said Andrianova. The Russian government’s propaganda campaign casts the LGBT community as a threat to children and family, a threat to traditional Russian values, and as foreign agents of the western states. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights entitles freedom of expression and protection from discrimination. Many feel this nationwide ban is in violation of those fundamental rights. Pressure from the international community and local government decisions to support the United Nations’ human rights could be instrumental in repealing the federal law. According to the Associated Press, “Russia’s media oversight is now seeking to take a newspaper to court over an article about a homosexual teacher in what appears to be the first case prepared against a publication under the country’s law on gay propaganda.” In the newspaper, journalist Molodoi Dalnevostochnik, quoted fired teacher Alexander Yermoshkin. According to the Russian news website Gazeta.ru, Yermoshkin said, “My existence itself is effectively evidence of homosexuality’s normalcy.” The fine for violating the propaganda law is up to $3,300 for individuals and $33,000 for organizations, along with a possible 90-day suspension.
and tolerance of LGBT people are not being introduced to youth. Despite the risk of police brutality and arrests, “Queer Fest 2013,” the 5th International Queer Pride and Culture Festival in St. Petersburg, recently took place. The event had a successful nine-day run of discussions and debates, photo exhibitions and concerts. Coming Out organizes Queer Fest every year. They are looking for celebrities to participate in the festival and support the LGBT community of Russia. “What [organizations like] GLAAD, specifically, can do, is help us find stars who would be willing to come to Russia, perform at an LGBT rights event and bring the message of tolerance directly to the Russian people,” said Andrianova. Coming Out has gained powerful allies over the past few years. Major human rights organizations in support of Coming Out include the Moscow Helsinki Group, the Human Rights Council of St. Petersburg, the Anti-Discrimination Center Memorial of St. Petersburg, the Youth Human Right Movement, the Alliance for Democratic St. Petersburg and many others. Support also comes from international human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Frontline Defenders and many LGBT and human rights organizations around the world.
[ The Olympics ] With the 2014 Winter Olympics scheduled in Sochi, emotions run high as some LGBT athletes and supporters threaten a boycott, while others form protests. Many feel that a boycott is not the answer and instead the LGBT community must use this forum to raise awareness. Coming Out takes the stand that the Olympics should be used as a platform
“Our recent poll showed that 58% out of 195 samesex families with children are already planning to leave the country.”
[ The Struggle ] Ignorance and political agendas make Russia a challenging place for a LGBT individual to live openly. “ I thought I could change the internal situation in Russia because I am engaged in the leadership of Russian Policy,” said Bast, who lives in Russia with her partner and supporter Yulia Guseinova. However, since coming out this past September in an interview with The Moscow Times, Bast said she is recognized by the Russian government as an enemy of Russia. Bast doesn’t plan on giving up, though, and encourages others not to, either. “We should join together to build a new country, a new world,” she stated. According to Andrianova, the narrow views and unfounded homophobic fears among the general Russian population are partially due to the lack of any sexual education in schools. Therefore, human sexuality
For Masha Bast, however, the situation is different when it comes to reaching out to international human rights organizations for support. “Several months ago I tried to contact these organizations. So far, I get only the newsletters from them and [nothing else].” In Russia, being open about one’s sexuality can mean being physically beaten, loss of one’s job, threats to one’s entire family and lack of government protection. “It is very sad that in Russia to come out of the closet becomes a brave act of activism,” said Andrianova. But supporters of change to the current state of LGBT affairs in Russia ask LGBT citizens to continue to stand strong and move forward. “Please, leave the position of footless slavery. Begin to defend your own rights,” said Bast.
Polina Andrianova
Masha Bast
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