Young And Gay In Putin's Russia

watch in full in VICE.com by clicking on picture

When President Vladimir Putin banned “propaganda” in last year, 's went from being a stigmatised fringe group to full-blown enemies of the state. becoming legislation means it's now not only accepted in Russia but actively encouraged, which has led to a depressing rise in homophobic attacks and murders.

The main aim of the law, which essentially bans any public display of homosexuality, is to prevent minors from getting the impression that being gay is normal. Which means that, if you're and gay in Putin's Russia, you're ostracised and cut off from any kind of legal support network.

We travelled to Russia ahead of February's Sochi Winter to investigate the effects of the country's state-sanctioned homophobia. There, we met everyone from young members of Moscow's LGBT community and core gay rights activists, to one of Putin's spin and the lawmaker behind the repressive anti- law.

For further information on some of the issues raised, please visit www.stonewall.org.uk/international

Enhanced by Zemanta