Question by Gavin: what is it like for gay people living in moscow and st petersburg?
can they and more importantly are they in practice open to family, friends and neighbors? how do the educated middle class’ in these cities view homosexuality?
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Answer by AverageJoe
I have a feeling this is a homework question, but in case it’s not:
According to a friend of mine who lives in Moscow it is still not a very open place to be gay there. Homosexuality in Russia is viewed upon much the same as the middle east. I’m sure he can’t speak for everyone over there but he is not out to his friends or family.
He takes trips to Berlin if he wants to do any gay-related activities.
You have to understand the mindset of a place like Russia, it’s run by a very strict, very prejudice, very “alpha” leader (Putin). Homosexuality is deemed a weak sickness by idiotic people like Putin and men over there are supposed to be the ultimate male ready for combat.
There will be no change in the gay movement over there or places like them any time soon.
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OSU Girl says
Despite their history as a communist nation (which, they preach as being equality for all citizens), there is a lot of oppression of homosexuals throughout Russia.
Male homosexuality was decriminalized in 1993 and homosexuality was officially removed from Russia's list of mental illnesses in 1999. Polls show that 14% of surveyed Russians support the legalization of gay marriage. Sadly, polls also seem to indicate that a large percentage of Russians support re-criminalizing homosexuality.
Despite this, there are gay communities in the larger cities like Russia.