'Avengers: Endgame' ntas MCU’s first openly gay character

Contents:

• ‘AVENGERS: ENDGAME’ FEATUR THE MCU’S FIRST OPENLY GAY MOMENT, STARRG DIRECTOR JOE RSO
• RSO BROTHERS TALK INTRODUCG FIRST OPENLY GAY MCU CHARACTER AVENGERS: ENDGAME
• THE RSO BROTHERS SAY A CURRENT MARVEL CHARACTER IS SECRETLY GAY
• ‘AVENGERS: ENDGAME’ DIRECTORS JOE & ANTHONY RSO ADDRS INCLN OF FIRST OPENLY GAY CHARACTER IN MARVEL SUPERHERO FILM
• MARVEL'S FIRST GAY CHARACTER IS PLAYED BY AVENGERS: ENDGAME'S DIRECTOR
• THE RSOS SAY A CURRENT MCU CHARACTER IS CANONILLY GAY, BUT WHAT DO THAT REALLY MEAN?
• RSO BROTHERS CONFIRM AVENGERS: ENDGAME FEATUR FIRST OPENLY GAY CHARACTER MARVEL CEMATIC UNIVERSE
• RSO BROTHERS CONFIRM ANOTHER GAY CHARACTER UPG MARVEL STUDS FILM
• WHEN WILL DIRECTORS LEARN TO STOP OVERHYPG THEIR MOVI’ “EXCLIVELY GAY MOMENT”?
• 'AVENGERS: ENDGAME' NTAS MCU’S FIRST OPENLY GAY CHARACTER, RSO BROTHERS EXPLA WHY
• 'AVENGERS: ENDGAME' DIRECTORS REVEALED THAT ONE OF MARVEL'S EXISTG CHARACTERS IS GAY, BUT FANS ARE MOCKG THE LACKLTER ANNOUNCEMENT
• ‘AVENGERS: ENDGAME’ DIRECTORS ON SEEKG ROBERT DOWNEY JR.’S BLSG AND MARVEL’S FIRST GAY CHARACTER
• MEET ANTON KRASOVSKY, THE GAY MAN RUNNG FOR MAYOR OF MOSWBRAVEANTON KRASOVSKY STANDS ALONE: THE ONLY OUT LGBTQ PERSON WILLG TO STAND FOR ELECTN RSIA. THAT’S IF THE THORI ALLOW HIM TO N FOR MAYOR OF MOSW THIS SEPTEMBER.ANNA NEMTSOVAUPDATED JUN. 29, 2018 12:01PM EDT / PUBLISHED JUN. 27, 2018 4:45AM EDT VALERY SHARIFUL/GETTYMOSCOW—ANTON KRASOVSKY’S MOUTH IS FULL OF SWEAR WORDS. HE IS ANGRY WH PRETTY MUCH EVERY LIAR AND PROPAGANDIST MOSW, THE CY HE LOV AND WANTS TO CHANGE. AT TIM SEEMS THAT HIS URAGE WOULD DISAPPEAR THE MOMENT HE STOPS CURSG. AND URAGE IS WHAT HE NEEDS MOST RIGHT NOW, AS KRASOVSKY IS THE ONLY OPENLY GAY PERSON THE UNTRY OF RSIA—WH A POPULATN OF MORE THAN 140 LN—WHO DAR TO PETE THE KREML-NTROLLED ELECTN PROCS.THE MAJORY OF RSIAN POLICIANS AND BURECRATS AGREE THAT LGBTQ PEOPLE ARE ABNORMAL. JT THE IA OF BEG ONE SGLE WARRR THE POLIL FIELD SOAKED HATE AND THRIVG HOMOPHOBIA WOULD SRE MANY AWAY OM THE ARENA. LAST MONTH, SPEAKG ON PENNT RAD STATN ECHO OF MOSW, KRASOVSKY REVEALED THE NEWS: SEPTEMBER HE WOULD N FOR MAYORAL ELECTN MOSW, IF THE THORI ALLOW HIM TO. (HE IS REGISTERED AS A NDIDATE BUT TO ACTUALLY TAKE PART THE ELECTN HE WILL HAVE TO LLECT SIGNATUR OF 110 MUNICIPAL PUTI BEFORE JULY 3.) “I ALMOST PISSED MY PANTS WHEN I CID TO N FOR MOSW MAYOR,” KRASOVSKY ADMTED TO THE DAILY BEAST A RECENT S-DOWN TERVIEW ONE OF MOSW’S HIP FFEE SHOPS, COFFEEMANIA. HERE, MOSW’S OLD TOWN KAI GOROD, MANY REGNIZED KRASOVSKY’S FACE.FIVE YEARS AGO, JUNE, 2013, 436 RSIAN MPS VOTED FAVOR OF A NEW BILL TO BAN “PROPAGANDA OF NON-TRADNAL SEXUAL RELATNS” AMONG MORS. THE BILL FORBA BOTH DIVIDUALS AND MEDIA GROUPS TO DISTRIBUTE LERATURE OR ANY OTHER MATERIALS ABOUT GAY RIGHTS. MANY LGBTQ FAI FLED THE UNTRY FEAR OF THE STATE TAKG THEIR CHILDREN AWAY OM THEM.SCE THEN, PRINT PUT HAS BEEN CRICIZED FOR NOT DOG ENOUGH TO HELP THE GAY MEN KILLED AND PERSECUTED A VIC CRACKDOWN CHECHNYA. THE NOTED BRISH LGBT ACTIVIST PETER TATCHELL PROTTED PRECISELY THIS AT THE BEGNG OF THE WORLD CUP, WHERE THE HOMOPHOBIA AND ANTI-LGBT POLICS OF RSIA HAS AGA E UNR THE TERNATNAL SPOTLIGHT.ABOUT WHY HE MOUNTED THE PROTT, TATCHELL TOLD THE DAILY BEAST AT THE TIME, “IT’S TREMENDOLY IMPORTANT THAT PRINT PUT DON’T SRE AN UNCHALLENGED PUBLIC RELATNS UP WH THE WORLD CUP. HE NEEDS TO BE LLED OUT OVER THE PERSECUTN OF LGBT+ PEOPLE, HIS SUPPRSN OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF RSIAN CIZENS, AND HIS WAR CRIM SYRIA.”THE DAILY BEAST ASKED KRASOVSKY WHY HE HAD GONE TO POLICS, WHEN MANY RSIAN GAY MEN AND WOMEN WERE FLEEG THE UNTRY. “BEE EVERYTHG SUCKS HERE,” KRASOVSKY SAID. HE WAS NVCED THAT, EVEN IF THE KREML DID NOT ALLOW HIS PARTICIPATN THE ELECTN, THE EXPERIENCE WOULD BE EFUL FOR HIS POLIL REER.IN THE PAST FEW YEARS KRASOVSKY HAS MANAGED ELECTN MPAIGNS FOR TWO OPPOSN NDIDAT, BILLNAIRE MIKHAIL PROKHOROV’S AND A POP SOCIALE KSENIA SOBCHAK.THE IA OF RIDG A BLACK R OR SHAKG HANDS WH PRINT PUT’S IENDS SOUND RATHER HUMORO TO THE NEW NDIDATE KRASOVSKY, A FORMER RSIAN VOGUE MAGAZE RRPONNT. “SOMEBODY LIKE CHECHEN LEAR RAMZAN KADYROV WOULD NOT SHAKE MY HAND; BUT IF HE WANTS TO SHAKE A HAND OF GAY, I WILL SHAKE HIS HAND BACK.”IN RSIA OFFICIALS ARE NOT SHY ABOUT THEIR HOMOPHOBIC VIEWS. THERE IS A SIGN ON THE DOOR TO THE OFFICE OF MP VALY MILONOV, AT STATE DUMA, THE LOWER HOE OF RSIAN PARLIAMENT: “BANNED ENTRY FOR SODOM.” MILONOV IS ONE OF MASTERMDS BEHD THE ANTI-GAY “PROPAGANDA” BILL— 2016 HE CLAIMED THAT GAY PEOPLE “RAPE KIDS.”FOR YEARS, RSIA'S SMALL MUNY OF LGBTQ ACTIVISTS HAVE ENDURED HARASSMENT OM VLENT NATNALISTS AND POLICE. MOST RSIAN GAY PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN UP THE STGGLE FOR THEIR RIGHTS—THEY EHER PLAN TO PE OR PREFER TO LIVE QUIETLY THEIR SMALL CIRCL.WHEN MANY OF HIS IENDS IMMIGRATED, KRASOVSKY PREFERRED TO STAY RSIA, ALTHOUGH WH HIS LONG EXPERIENCE OF WORKG AS A MAGAZE WRER AND A TV PRENTER HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO FD A GOOD PLACE FOR HIMSELF NEW YORK OR ANY EUROPEAN PAL. THERE HAVE BEEN WORSE TIM HIS LIFE, HE SAID, WHICH LEFT HIM AMONG VERY FEW SURVIVORS. “I THK ABOUT 90 PERCENT OF MY IENDS OM MOSW BOHEMIA CIRCL HAVE KILLED THEMSELV BY ALHOL AND DGS AND THE RT HAVE BUILT THEMSELV TO THE CURRENT STATE SYSTEM. IT IS A MIRACLE THAT I DID NOT DRK MYSELF TO ATH,” HE ADMTED TO THE DAILY BEAST.THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME KRASOVSKY HAS SHOWN HIS URAGE RSIA. DURG HIS G OUT ON THE INTER KONTR TV 2013 KRASOVSKY SAID: “I AM GAY BUT I AM JT AS HUMAN AS PUT.” LAST YEAR, AN TERVIEW PUBLISHED ON FACEBOOK, KRASOVSKY ADMTED THAT HE HAD BEEN LIVG WH HIV SCE 2011. AS A VOLUNTEER AND ACTIVIST, KRASOVSKY AND HIS IENDS HAVE BEEN PHG THORI FOR TAKG MEASUR, LEGALIZG METHADONE TREATMENT, FOR FIGHTG HIV/AIDS EPIMIC RSIA.ALTHOUGH THE KREML HAS SANCTNED HOMOPHOBIA THROUGHOUT THE UNTRY, KRASOVSKY SISTS THAT ORDARY PEOPLE DO NOT HATE LGBTQ PEOPLE. “IT IS AN ILLN THAT RSIA IS A HOMOPHOBIC UNTRY BY S NATURE,” KRASOVSKY SISTED TO THE DAILY BEAST. HE SOUND IRRATED, WHEN HE SPOKE ABOUT STEREOTYP CREATED BY MEDIA. “MY HOMOSEXUALY HAS NEVER HELPED ME BUT HAS NEVER BEEN THE WAY OF MY REER GOALS. IF PEOPLE ARE NSTANTLY TOLD THAT QUEERS ARE BASTARDS, AND TO BEAT THEM BEE ALL THEY WANT IS TO WALK THE STREETS NAKED, SOME GO AND DO BEAT UP LGBT PEOPLE.”DURG THE PAST MONTH KRASOVSKY HAS BEEN HOLDG DAILY PUBLIC MEETGS WH HIS ELECTORATE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS OF MOSW. “PEOPLE DO NOT RE IF YOU ARE HOMOSEXUAL OR NOT, NOR IS ANYBODY TERTED YOUR HIV OR ANY OTHER HEALTH PROBLEMS; PEOPLE WANT TO TALK WH ME ABOUT THE CY MOLISHG HO THEIR DISTRICT, OF MUNAL SERVIC FAILG, AND OF SOME ILLEGAL NSTCTN S OR SCHOOLS CLOSG DOWN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.” WHEN KRASOVSKY WAS YOUNG HIS FAY LIVED TY ROOMS AND MUNAL APARTMENTS FOR MOST OF HIS CHILDHOOD. HE WAS BORN ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF MOSW THE PROVCIAL TOWN OF PODOLSK (WHICH HAS A POPULATN OF 302,831) WHERE KRASOVSKY WENT TO SCHOOL. HE NTUED HIS STUDI UKRAE, THE TOWN OF RIVNE, WHERE HIS ENGEER FATHER WORKED AT RIVNE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT. “WHEN I TURNED 14, I MOVED TO MOSW AND DISVERED THE LIFE OF UNRGROUND BOHEMIA—MANY OF MY IENDS WERE G E AT THE TIME.”DURG THE PERTROIKA YEARS THE LATE 1980 KRASOVSKY BELONGED TO UNTERCULTURE CIRCL OF SOVIET HIPSTERS, LLG THEMSELV “STILYAGI.” “WE WERE ALL LISTENG TO ELVIS PRLEY, WENT TO VIKTOR TSOI’S NCERTS. I DRSED UP SEND HAND CLOTH OM THSKY MARKET. I HAD SOME HELLISH WHE JACKET AT SOME POT. LOOK, I WAS NEVER RICH, I NEVER HAD ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY EXPENSIVE CLOTH.”KRASOVSKY’S IENDS MET ON THURSDAYS AT AN UNRGROUND CLUB LLED MOLOKO. KRASOVSKY STUDIED MAXIM GORKY LERATURE INSTUTE, THE TRAG GROUND FOR RSIAN POETS. HIS PANY OF HIP LOOKG YOUTH MGLED WH A QUEEN OF SOVIET AND POST-SOVIET ROCK AND ROLL, ZHANNA AGUZAROVA. IF, AS HE SAYS, SOME OF KRASOVSKY’S IENDS ED THEMSELV BY DGS, OTHERS TURNED TO VLADIMIR PUT FANS. KRASOVSKY PATH WAS DIFFERENT. “I AM STILL HAPPY THAT CHANG ME TO MY UNTRY; MY FAY HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY DRAMATIC FANCIAL LOSS, WE WERE NEVER HUNGRY DURG THE PERD THAT SOME SCRIBE AS THE ‘BLOODY LIBERAL REGIME’—ANY CHANG ARE ALWAYS GOOD.”RUNNG FOR MOSW MAYOR, KRASOVSKY SE HIS ROLE, AS A NDIDATE, TO FIGHT FOR EQUALY FOR ALL. “OF ALL POLICIANS I PREFER OBAMA, I AM SOCIAL MOCRAT BY MY POLIL VIEWS, I WANT TO TAKE PART THE ELECTN TO SHOW THE CURRENT POLIL ELE HOW TO FIGHT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND EEDOM.” ANNA NEMTSOVA

‘AVENGERS: ENDGAME’ FEATUR THE MCU’S FIRST OPENLY GAY MOMENT, STARRG DIRECTOR JOE RSO

The moment is quick, but ’s a tone nohels as reprents the first openly gay moment the MCU. “It was important to as we did four of the films, we wanted a gay character somewhere them.

While nothg has been nfirmed by Disney or Marvel Studs, the mor has that Chloe Zhoe’s upg MCU entry “The Eternals” will feature an openly gay superhero. “We wanted to be sual, wh the fact that the character is gay tied to the fabric of the storytellg and reprentg what everyday life is, ” Joe Rso said. “We’ve seen now even untri where homosexualy isn’t as ee as is here, ” Anthony Rso add.

That chang this weekend wh the arrival of Avengers: Endgame, as directors Joe and Anthony Rso ma a pot to clu a gay character a small role early the film. "It was important to as we did four of the films, we wanted a gay character somewhere them. "The fact that the character is gay will get attentn but isn't where the scene started, " Joe ntued.

RSO BROTHERS TALK INTRODUCG FIRST OPENLY GAY MCU CHARACTER AVENGERS: ENDGAME

"There has been talk of troducg a gay hero a future MCU film, likely the upg movie The Eternals. Kev Feige wh Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Srlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Mark Ruffalo (Cred: Willy Sanjuan/Invisn/AP)Avengers: Endgame directors the Rso brothers have revealed that Marvel Studs will soon reveal that one of the current MCU characters is secretly gay.

Dpe some sexual tensn between Mark Ruffalo's Bce Banner and Srlett Johansson's Natasha Romanoff (and Steve Rogers pg over Peggy Carter) the Avengers films are largely sexls 's perhaps no great surprise that if one of them is gay, 's not really figured the overall story more: Eight new Marvel movi datedHowever, that's soon to change. Speakg to Entertament Weekly's EW Morng Live, director Joe Rso was discsg his meo Avengers: appears the scene which Steve Rogers is – for reasons entirely unexplaed – sudnly employed a group therapist to a bunch of 's the guy who speaks about losg his partner, but has sce been on a date, though 's one that volved cryg a he's gay is – pleasgly – not picked up on the slightt, and the terview wh EW, Rso explas that this guy is the first 'openly gay' character the seri (though that's pretty shabby self, nsirg the st of thoands over 22 movi). (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)Nohels, he says: “Y, openly gay.

THE RSO BROTHERS SAY A CURRENT MARVEL CHARACTER IS SECRETLY GAY

There’ve been suatns about other characters’ sexualy, but this is the first openly gay character.

”Asked 'who else is gay? Read more: What Endgame’s endg means for the MCU’s future“There is a gay character g up one of their films, and I thk Kev [Feige, MCU boss] will make that announcement, I’m sure pretty soon. ”Ined, Feige has said there will be openly gay characters bluntly by The Playlist if some LGBT characters were on the way, he said bluntly 'Y', and then when asked if was someone we've already seen, he add 'both'.

Avengers: Endgame troduc the first openly gay character to appear a Disney/Marvel movie. There has been speculatn that Marvel will add an openly gay superhero at some pot, and onle mors have pegged The Eternals as a possibily. Disney will her a gay character, Negasonic Teegage Warhead, om Fox’s Deadpool and Deadpool 2, the latter of which clud her girliend.

‘AVENGERS: ENDGAME’ DIRECTORS JOE & ANTHONY RSO ADDRS INCLN OF FIRST OPENLY GAY CHARACTER IN MARVEL SUPERHERO FILM

“The fact that the character is gay will get attentn but isn’t where the scene started, ” he said. “We’ve seen now even untri where people untri where homosexualy isn’t as ee as is here, ” Anthony Rso said. Is Anthony Rso Gay?

Anthony Rso yet has not given any public statement about , but is unrstood that he is most fely not gay. He is now married to Ann Rso, who is now the mother of their kid Julian Rso even though is not certa that sce when he got married, but is affirmed that he do not have any mor to nfirm or support the fact that he is gay. A clearly gay character has fally arrived the Marvel universe -- although many sual viewers may miss the historic Rso, who directed Avengers: Endgame wh his brother Anthony Rso, portrays a gay man the blockbter, reports Deadle.

MARVEL'S FIRST GAY CHARACTER IS PLAYED BY AVENGERS: ENDGAME'S DIRECTOR

Several mor characters, like Thor: Ragnarok's Valkyrie (Tsa Thompson) and Black Panther's Ayo (Florence Kasumba) and Okoye (Danai Gurira), were reportedly -gayed through leted scen.

Anthony Rso told Deadle that the cln of the gay character reprented a step toward clivy that reflected the real world. "Marvel has yet to troduce a clearly LGBTQ superhero -- although the stud is reportedly searchg for a gay actor to portray one. A Marvel executive, Victoria Alonso, told Variety at the Capta Marvel premiere that "the world is ready" for a gay superhero.

THE RSOS SAY A CURRENT MCU CHARACTER IS CANONILLY GAY, BUT WHAT DO THAT REALLY MEAN?

Acrdg to a new terview wh Entertament Weekly published on Wednday, Anthony and Joe Rso claim that a character the dience already knows will be revealed as gay a future film. For example, an unnamed gay character played by Joe Rso appeared a brief scene  Avengers: Endgame. When asked to clarify if this character was “the first out gay character” a Marvel film, Joe replied, “Y, openly gay.

“There is a gay character g up one of their films, and I thk Kev [Feige, Marvel Studs print] will make that announcement, I’m sure pretty soon, ” Joe told EW.

RSO BROTHERS CONFIRM AVENGERS: ENDGAME FEATUR FIRST OPENLY GAY CHARACTER MARVEL CEMATIC UNIVERSE

In 2018, he said at least two openly gay characters would be revealed future MCU films. Assumg that Joe Rso’s character  Endgame was one of the characters, then who else will get to be nonilly gay? Joe and Anthony Rso, the directors of Avengers: Endgame, nfirmed the film featur the first openly gay character the Marvel Cematic Universe (MCU).

RSO BROTHERS CONFIRM ANOTHER GAY CHARACTER UPG MARVEL STUDS FILM

It was important to as we did four of the films, we wanted a gay character somewhere them.

“The fact that the character is gay will get attentn but isn’t where the scene started. “We wanted to be sual, wh the fact that the character is gay tied to the fabric of the storytellg and reprentg what everyday life is.

“We’ve seen now even untri where people untri where homosexualy isn’t as ee as is here.

WHEN WILL DIRECTORS LEARN TO STOP OVERHYPG THEIR MOVI’ “EXCLIVELY GAY MOMENT”?

This troductn of a gay character should not e as a surprise to anyone who has been followg the Marvel Cematic Universe closely. Marvel productn chief Victoria Alonso also stated at the Los Angel premiere for Capta Marvel that “the world is ready, the world is ready” for a gay superhero.

What do you make of the cln of the first gay character to the MCU Avengers: Endgame?

In addn to brg an end to some character arcs and settg up new opportuni for other hero, Endgame also troduced the first openly gay character the MCU and while the character may have been mor, more LGBTQ characters are g, acrdg to the Rso an terview wh Siri XM, Endgame directors Anthony and Joe Rso opened up about a lot of burng qutns about blockbter film, cludg s troductn of an openly gay character. He refers to his date as a man, a mentn that reveals that the character is gay. "There is a gay character g up one of their films, " Rso said.

'AVENGERS: ENDGAME' NTAS MCU’S FIRST OPENLY GAY CHARACTER, RSO BROTHERS EXPLA WHY

"Fans have spected for some time that one of the upg characters The Eternals, one of Marvel Studs' next films, will brg the first gay lead character to the MCU and while Feige didn't specifilly nfirm that spicn, he has spoken about creasg diversy wh the MCU a recent terview wh 9. "It's the importance of reprentatn that prompted Rso to, when they opted to have a gay character appear Endgame, play the character himself.

'AVENGERS: ENDGAME' DIRECTORS REVEALED THAT ONE OF MARVEL'S EXISTG CHARACTERS IS GAY, BUT FANS ARE MOCKG THE LACKLTER ANNOUNCEMENT

"We've done four of the films and was credibly important to to have a gay character reprented somewhere one of the four movi. "Avengers: Endgame is theaters you exced for the MCU to have more gay characters?

It’s the 22nd movie a massive big-screen anchise that has somehow never clud an openly gay character, so you ci that you’re gog to clu one. Not a major one, md you—there’s no time to troduce a new superhero this late the game, and the powers that be won’t let you do anythg tertg wh the sexualy of an existg character—but you n at least, your own small way, show solidary wh gay fans and make this fictnal universe a smidgen more clive, and realistic, the procs. Congratulatns, you are Joe and Anthony Rso, who fell victim to a classic mistake while dog prs for Avengers: Endgame by overhypg the movie’s “exclively gay moment.

” That term om director Bill Condon, who accintally ed while promotg what turned out to be a mostly unspired and unrwhelmg pictn of a gay supportg character the live-actn Bety and the Beast.

‘AVENGERS: ENDGAME’ DIRECTORS ON SEEKG ROBERT DOWNEY JR.’S BLSG AND MARVEL’S FIRST GAY CHARACTER

Though Grievg Man plays an even smaller role Endgame than LeFou do Bety and the Beast, let’s give cred where cred is due: Grievg Man is not d as gay or implied to be gay or kda-sorta-maybe gay.

MEET ANTON KRASOVSKY, THE GAY MAN RUNNG FOR MAYOR OF MOSWBRAVEANTON KRASOVSKY STANDS ALONE: THE ONLY OUT LGBTQ PERSON WILLG TO STAND FOR ELECTN RSIA. THAT’S IF THE THORI ALLOW HIM TO N FOR MAYOR OF MOSW THIS SEPTEMBER.ANNA NEMTSOVAUPDATED JUN. 29, 2018 12:01PM EDT / PUBLISHED JUN. 27, 2018 4:45AM EDT VALERY SHARIFUL/GETTYMOSCOW—ANTON KRASOVSKY’S MOUTH IS FULL OF SWEAR WORDS. HE IS ANGRY WH PRETTY MUCH EVERY LIAR AND PROPAGANDIST MOSW, THE CY HE LOV AND WANTS TO CHANGE. AT TIM SEEMS THAT HIS URAGE WOULD DISAPPEAR THE MOMENT HE STOPS CURSG. AND URAGE IS WHAT HE NEEDS MOST RIGHT NOW, AS KRASOVSKY IS THE ONLY OPENLY GAY PERSON THE UNTRY OF RSIA—WH A POPULATN OF MORE THAN 140 LN—WHO DAR TO PETE THE KREML-NTROLLED ELECTN PROCS.THE MAJORY OF RSIAN POLICIANS AND BURECRATS AGREE THAT LGBTQ PEOPLE ARE ABNORMAL. JT THE IA OF BEG ONE SGLE WARRR THE POLIL FIELD SOAKED HATE AND THRIVG HOMOPHOBIA WOULD SRE MANY AWAY OM THE ARENA. LAST MONTH, SPEAKG ON PENNT RAD STATN ECHO OF MOSW, KRASOVSKY REVEALED THE NEWS: SEPTEMBER HE WOULD N FOR MAYORAL ELECTN MOSW, IF THE THORI ALLOW HIM TO. (HE IS REGISTERED AS A NDIDATE BUT TO ACTUALLY TAKE PART THE ELECTN HE WILL HAVE TO LLECT SIGNATUR OF 110 MUNICIPAL PUTI BEFORE JULY 3.) “I ALMOST PISSED MY PANTS WHEN I CID TO N FOR MOSW MAYOR,” KRASOVSKY ADMTED TO THE DAILY BEAST A RECENT S-DOWN TERVIEW ONE OF MOSW’S HIP FFEE SHOPS, COFFEEMANIA. HERE, MOSW’S OLD TOWN KAI GOROD, MANY REGNIZED KRASOVSKY’S FACE.FIVE YEARS AGO, JUNE, 2013, 436 RSIAN MPS VOTED FAVOR OF A NEW BILL TO BAN “PROPAGANDA OF NON-TRADNAL SEXUAL RELATNS” AMONG MORS. THE BILL FORBA BOTH DIVIDUALS AND MEDIA GROUPS TO DISTRIBUTE LERATURE OR ANY OTHER MATERIALS ABOUT GAY RIGHTS. MANY LGBTQ FAI FLED THE UNTRY FEAR OF THE STATE TAKG THEIR CHILDREN AWAY OM THEM.SCE THEN, PRINT PUT HAS BEEN CRICIZED FOR NOT DOG ENOUGH TO HELP THE GAY MEN KILLED AND PERSECUTED A VIC CRACKDOWN CHECHNYA. THE NOTED BRISH LGBT ACTIVIST PETER TATCHELL PROTTED PRECISELY THIS AT THE BEGNG OF THE WORLD CUP, WHERE THE HOMOPHOBIA AND ANTI-LGBT POLICS OF RSIA HAS AGA E UNR THE TERNATNAL SPOTLIGHT.ABOUT WHY HE MOUNTED THE PROTT, TATCHELL TOLD THE DAILY BEAST AT THE TIME, “IT’S TREMENDOLY IMPORTANT THAT PRINT PUT DON’T SRE AN UNCHALLENGED PUBLIC RELATNS UP WH THE WORLD CUP. HE NEEDS TO BE LLED OUT OVER THE PERSECUTN OF LGBT+ PEOPLE, HIS SUPPRSN OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF RSIAN CIZENS, AND HIS WAR CRIM SYRIA.”THE DAILY BEAST ASKED KRASOVSKY WHY HE HAD GONE TO POLICS, WHEN MANY RSIAN GAY MEN AND WOMEN WERE FLEEG THE UNTRY. “BEE EVERYTHG SUCKS HERE,” KRASOVSKY SAID. HE WAS NVCED THAT, EVEN IF THE KREML DID NOT ALLOW HIS PARTICIPATN THE ELECTN, THE EXPERIENCE WOULD BE EFUL FOR HIS POLIL REER.IN THE PAST FEW YEARS KRASOVSKY HAS MANAGED ELECTN MPAIGNS FOR TWO OPPOSN NDIDAT, BILLNAIRE MIKHAIL PROKHOROV’S AND A POP SOCIALE KSENIA SOBCHAK.THE IA OF RIDG A BLACK R OR SHAKG HANDS WH PRINT PUT’S IENDS SOUND RATHER HUMORO TO THE NEW NDIDATE KRASOVSKY, A FORMER RSIAN VOGUE MAGAZE RRPONNT. “SOMEBODY LIKE CHECHEN LEAR RAMZAN KADYROV WOULD NOT SHAKE MY HAND; BUT IF HE WANTS TO SHAKE A HAND OF GAY, I WILL SHAKE HIS HAND BACK.”IN RSIA OFFICIALS ARE NOT SHY ABOUT THEIR HOMOPHOBIC VIEWS. THERE IS A SIGN ON THE DOOR TO THE OFFICE OF MP VALY MILONOV, AT STATE DUMA, THE LOWER HOE OF RSIAN PARLIAMENT: “BANNED ENTRY FOR SODOM.” MILONOV IS ONE OF MASTERMDS BEHD THE ANTI-GAY “PROPAGANDA” BILL— 2016 HE CLAIMED THAT GAY PEOPLE “RAPE KIDS.”FOR YEARS, RSIA'S SMALL MUNY OF LGBTQ ACTIVISTS HAVE ENDURED HARASSMENT OM VLENT NATNALISTS AND POLICE. MOST RSIAN GAY PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN UP THE STGGLE FOR THEIR RIGHTS—THEY EHER PLAN TO PE OR PREFER TO LIVE QUIETLY THEIR SMALL CIRCL.WHEN MANY OF HIS IENDS IMMIGRATED, KRASOVSKY PREFERRED TO STAY RSIA, ALTHOUGH WH HIS LONG EXPERIENCE OF WORKG AS A MAGAZE WRER AND A TV PRENTER HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO FD A GOOD PLACE FOR HIMSELF NEW YORK OR ANY EUROPEAN PAL. THERE HAVE BEEN WORSE TIM HIS LIFE, HE SAID, WHICH LEFT HIM AMONG VERY FEW SURVIVORS. “I THK ABOUT 90 PERCENT OF MY IENDS OM MOSW BOHEMIA CIRCL HAVE KILLED THEMSELV BY ALHOL AND DGS AND THE RT HAVE BUILT THEMSELV TO THE CURRENT STATE SYSTEM. IT IS A MIRACLE THAT I DID NOT DRK MYSELF TO ATH,” HE ADMTED TO THE DAILY BEAST.THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME KRASOVSKY HAS SHOWN HIS URAGE RSIA. DURG HIS G OUT ON THE INTER KONTR TV 2013 KRASOVSKY SAID: “I AM GAY BUT I AM JT AS HUMAN AS PUT.” LAST YEAR, AN TERVIEW PUBLISHED ON FACEBOOK, KRASOVSKY ADMTED THAT HE HAD BEEN LIVG WH HIV SCE 2011. AS A VOLUNTEER AND ACTIVIST, KRASOVSKY AND HIS IENDS HAVE BEEN PHG THORI FOR TAKG MEASUR, LEGALIZG METHADONE TREATMENT, FOR FIGHTG HIV/AIDS EPIMIC RSIA.ALTHOUGH THE KREML HAS SANCTNED HOMOPHOBIA THROUGHOUT THE UNTRY, KRASOVSKY SISTS THAT ORDARY PEOPLE DO NOT HATE LGBTQ PEOPLE. “IT IS AN ILLN THAT RSIA IS A HOMOPHOBIC UNTRY BY S NATURE,” KRASOVSKY SISTED TO THE DAILY BEAST. HE SOUND IRRATED, WHEN HE SPOKE ABOUT STEREOTYP CREATED BY MEDIA. “MY HOMOSEXUALY HAS NEVER HELPED ME BUT HAS NEVER BEEN THE WAY OF MY REER GOALS. IF PEOPLE ARE NSTANTLY TOLD THAT QUEERS ARE BASTARDS, AND TO BEAT THEM BEE ALL THEY WANT IS TO WALK THE STREETS NAKED, SOME GO AND DO BEAT UP LGBT PEOPLE.”DURG THE PAST MONTH KRASOVSKY HAS BEEN HOLDG DAILY PUBLIC MEETGS WH HIS ELECTORATE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS OF MOSW. “PEOPLE DO NOT RE IF YOU ARE HOMOSEXUAL OR NOT, NOR IS ANYBODY TERTED YOUR HIV OR ANY OTHER HEALTH PROBLEMS; PEOPLE WANT TO TALK WH ME ABOUT THE CY MOLISHG HO THEIR DISTRICT, OF MUNAL SERVIC FAILG, AND OF SOME ILLEGAL NSTCTN S OR SCHOOLS CLOSG DOWN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.” WHEN KRASOVSKY WAS YOUNG HIS FAY LIVED TY ROOMS AND MUNAL APARTMENTS FOR MOST OF HIS CHILDHOOD. HE WAS BORN ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF MOSW THE PROVCIAL TOWN OF PODOLSK (WHICH HAS A POPULATN OF 302,831) WHERE KRASOVSKY WENT TO SCHOOL. HE NTUED HIS STUDI UKRAE, THE TOWN OF RIVNE, WHERE HIS ENGEER FATHER WORKED AT RIVNE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT. “WHEN I TURNED 14, I MOVED TO MOSW AND DISVERED THE LIFE OF UNRGROUND BOHEMIA—MANY OF MY IENDS WERE G E AT THE TIME.”DURG THE PERTROIKA YEARS THE LATE 1980 KRASOVSKY BELONGED TO UNTERCULTURE CIRCL OF SOVIET HIPSTERS, LLG THEMSELV “STILYAGI.” “WE WERE ALL LISTENG TO ELVIS PRLEY, WENT TO VIKTOR TSOI’S NCERTS. I DRSED UP SEND HAND CLOTH OM THSKY MARKET. I HAD SOME HELLISH WHE JACKET AT SOME POT. LOOK, I WAS NEVER RICH, I NEVER HAD ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY EXPENSIVE CLOTH.”KRASOVSKY’S IENDS MET ON THURSDAYS AT AN UNRGROUND CLUB LLED MOLOKO. KRASOVSKY STUDIED MAXIM GORKY LERATURE INSTUTE, THE TRAG GROUND FOR RSIAN POETS. HIS PANY OF HIP LOOKG YOUTH MGLED WH A QUEEN OF SOVIET AND POST-SOVIET ROCK AND ROLL, ZHANNA AGUZAROVA. IF, AS HE SAYS, SOME OF KRASOVSKY’S IENDS ED THEMSELV BY DGS, OTHERS TURNED TO VLADIMIR PUT FANS. KRASOVSKY PATH WAS DIFFERENT. “I AM STILL HAPPY THAT CHANG ME TO MY UNTRY; MY FAY HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY DRAMATIC FANCIAL LOSS, WE WERE NEVER HUNGRY DURG THE PERD THAT SOME SCRIBE AS THE ‘BLOODY LIBERAL REGIME’—ANY CHANG ARE ALWAYS GOOD.”RUNNG FOR MOSW MAYOR, KRASOVSKY SE HIS ROLE, AS A NDIDATE, TO FIGHT FOR EQUALY FOR ALL. “OF ALL POLICIANS I PREFER OBAMA, I AM SOCIAL MOCRAT BY MY POLIL VIEWS, I WANT TO TAKE PART THE ELECTN TO SHOW THE CURRENT POLIL ELE HOW TO FIGHT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND EEDOM.” ANNA NEMTSOVA

He’s gay! Star Trek Beyond eded out a same-sex kiss between s gay uple, while Inpennce Day’s sequel mataed plsible niabily by not gog beyond hand-holdg.