'We're not hidg': Gay and lbian Rsians say a cultural shift is unrway

Contents:

• WHY RSIA IS SO ANTI-GAY
• WHY RSIA TURNED AGAST THE GAYS
• 1 5 RSIANS WANT GAYS AND LBIANS 'ELIMATED,' SURVEY FDS
• RSIA: THE UNTRY THAT HAT GAY PEOPLE
• 'WE'RE NOT HIDG': GAY AND LBIAN RSIANS SAY A CULTURAL SHIFT IS UNRWAY
• LGBT HATE CRIM DOUBLE RSIA AFTER BAN ON 'GAY PROPAGANDA'
• 6 REASONS YOU NEED TO SEE HBO'S 'HUNTED: THE WAR AGAST GAYS IN RSIA''HUNTED: THE WAR AGAST GAYS RSIA' IS A HNTG LOOK AT THE NATN'S {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.25 "GRAVY",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#FFFFFF;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.25 "GRAVY",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#FFFFFF;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}LIFEBY GIL KFMANOCTOBER 7, 2014/9:01 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:574PX;WIDTH:1020PX;}HBO'HUNTED' BLDGBY GIL KFMANOCTOBER 7, 2014 / 9:01 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"6 REASONS YOU NEED TO SEE HBO'S 'HUNTED: THE WAR AGAST GAYS IN RSIA'","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2014-10-07T13:01:07.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2014-10-07T13:01:07.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"MTV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"MTV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1280,"HEIGHT":720}},"CREATOR":"GIL KFMAN","ARTICLESECTN":"LIFE"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN RSIA, GAY MEN AND WOMEN ARE "HUNTED LIKE ANIMALS." THAT'S THE CHILLG MSAGE HBO'S NEW DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE WAR AGAST LGBT RSIANS, "HUNTED: THE WAR AGAST GAYS RSIA."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THOUGH HOMOSEXUALY WAS LEGALIZED 20 YEARS AGO RSIA, HOMOPHOBIC VLENCE IS ON THE RISE THE UNTRY, AND ACRDG TO THE DOCUMENTARY, MIGHT BE A PLOT BY THE ERNMENT TO DISTRACT RSIANS OM THE NATN'S MANY PROBLEMS. THE SUATN IS SO BAD THAT 'S THOUGHT ONLY ONE PERCENT OF GAY AND LBIAN RSIANS LIVE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE FILM CHRONICL THE TIMIDATN, FEAR AND HARASSMENT FACED BY GAY AND LBIAN RSIANS ON A DAILY BASIS. HERE ARE THE 6 MOST CHILLG SCEN "HUNTED":{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}1. A FATHER'S FILM FTIVAL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN THE MOVIE, WE MEET TIMOR, A MARRIED FATHER AND JEWELRY SIGNER WHO NS THE "TRADNAL FAY VALU" GROUP PARENTS OF RSIA. WE WATCH AS HE AND A IEND, DMRI, PLOT TO DISPT A GAY FILM FTIVAL BY HANDG OUT GIFT BAGS WH SOAP AND A ROPE AND THE MSAGE, "KILL YOURSELF AND CLEANSE THE EARTH OF YOUR WICKEDNS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THIS IS RSIA. THIS IS HELL FOR HOMOSEXUALS," A SATISFIED TIMOR SAYS AFTER A BOMB THREAT IS LLED TO THE FTIVAL. IN RSIA, THERE ARE NO SUCH THG AS A GAY HATE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}2. VIGILANTE GROUPS ON THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN A DISTURBG TREND, HOMOPHOBIC VIGILANTE GROUPS HAVE STARTED TO HUNT GAY MEN AND ATTACK THEM FOR "FUN," POSTG THEIR TROPHY VIOS ONLE. THE CLIPS, VIEWED BY THOANDS, PICT BTAL ATTACKS AND HUIATNS, CLUDG ONE THAT LEFT A VICTIM BLD ONE EYE ON THE FIRST DAY THE "HUNTED" CREW BEGAN FILMG.HBO'HUNTED' {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}3. RSIAN ATTUS STUCK IN THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}EVEN AS ATTUS ABOUT HOMOSEXUALY HAVE CHANGED ACROSS MUCH OF EUROPE OVER THE PAST TWO S, ACRDG TO "HUNTED," OVER ONE-THIRD OF RSIANS THK THAT GAY PEOPLE SHOULD BE MEDILLY, OR PSYCHOLOGILLY TREATED. LAST YEAR, THE RSIAN PARLIAMENT UNANIMOLY PASSED A PROPAGANDA LAW THAT BANS ALL POSIVE AND NTRAL REFERENC TO "NON-TRADNAL" RELATNSHIPS THAT MIGHT BE SEEN BY ANYONE UNR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}4. THE RSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH IS FANNG THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}A PROMENT MEMBER OF THE RSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, FATHER SERGEI, PAR HOMOSEXUALY TO BTIALY THE FILM AND SUGGTS THAT IF LGBT RSIANS ARE ALLOWED TO LIVE OPENLY THAT WILL LEAD TO UNCHECKED PEDOPHILIA. THE BATN OF THE CHURCH'S ATTU AND THE ANTI-GAY LAWS ARE SEEN AS A NTRIBUTG FACTOR TO THE RISE ATTACKS AGAST GAY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}5. THE ONLE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHILE THE INTER HAS BEEN A REFUGE FOR GAY RSIANS, ANTI-GAY GROUPS HAVE BEGUN G SOCIAL MEDIA TO LURE VICTIMS TO VLENT TRAPS. WHILE ANIZATNS LIKE "OCCUPY PEDOPHILIA" CLAIM THEY ARE ONLY GOG AFTER CHILD MOLTERS, MANY UPLOAD VIOS OF VIC BEATGS OF GAY MEN WHO HAVE BEEN LURED BY PROMIS OF SEX DURG OUTGS THE GROUPS LL "SAFARIS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}6. FIGHTG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHILE THE VIGILANTE GROUPS NTUE TO MOUNT ATTACKS AND THORI TURN A BLD EYE, SOME GAY GROUPS ARE BUCKG THE LAW AGAST GAY PROPAGANDA AND ARE SPEAKG OUT AGAST THE VLENCE. IN THE FILM WE MEET VETERAN ACTIVIST KIRIL, WHO IS SHOWN ANIZG A PROTT. BUT, BEE GAY GROUPS NNOT GET PERMS, HE AND HIS LLEAGU MT MOUNT SGLE-PERSON ACTNS ON THE STREETS OF THEIR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BEE OF THE LAWS, THOUGH, THE PROTTERS HAVE TO AVOID ANY MENTN OF HOMOSEXUALY THEIR ACTNS, AND EVEN THEN THEY FACE HARASSMENT OM POLICE. IN ADDN, MANY YOUNG LGBT RSIANS ARE AAID TO E OUT AND GAY UPL WH CHILDREN LIVE FEAR OF HAVG THEIR KIDS TAKEN WAY OM {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FOR MORE RMATN ON LGBT EQUALY THIS UNTRY CHECK OUT LOOK {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
• 10 COUNTRI THAT COMPLETELY HATE GAY PEOPLE

WHY RSIA IS SO ANTI-GAY

Nearly three-quarters of Rsians believe that homosexually is morally unacceptable, more than disapprove of other hot-button issu such as extramaral affairs, gamblg and numbers e om newly released data om the Pew Rearch Center, which surveyed Rsians on their moral attus sprg 2013. Jt eight months before the gam, Rsia's ernmental body, the Duma, passed a law makg illegal to distribute homosexual "propaganda" to mors, which clus stagg gay pri events and advotg for gay law also bans foreign same-sex upl om adoptg Rsian the openg day of the Olympics (Feb.

[5 Myths About Gay People Debunked]History of anti-gay attusUnrstandg Rsia's wispread gay sentiment requir a look back, said Tatiana Mikhailova, a senr stctor of Rsian Studi at the Universy of Colorado, Boulr.

In 1716, homosexualy among ary men was ma punishable by floggg, rape and forced labor, acrdg to Dan Healy, a profsor of Rsian history at Oxford Universy.

WHY RSIA TURNED AGAST THE GAYS

In 1835, Czar Nicholas I extend the ban on male same-sex relatnships to revolutnari threw out the Czarist legal and drew up their own, which did not crimalize homosexualy. Joseph Stal, who nsolidated power over the 1920s, and his secret police appotee, Genrikh Yagoda, drafted a new law penalizg homosexuals, whom they portrayed as spi and sundrels.

1 5 RSIANS WANT GAYS AND LBIANS 'ELIMATED,' SURVEY FDS

"Where gays are allowed, pedophilia will soon flourish, " says Rsian Orthodox prit Sergei Rybko a new BBC documentary, "Hunted, " released this month, that explor vlence toward Rsian Rsian Orthodox Church is a major driver of anti-gay public opn, Mikhailova said, but there is a paradox at most untri, religsy is lked to anti-gay attus. Few Rsians say relign is central to their liv; the untry sr on par wh many Wtern European untri terms of lack of religsy, but only 9 percent of Rsians say homosexualy is acceptable the new survey. Another 9 percent say homosexualy is not a moral issue, and 72 percent say beg gay is parison, 69 percent of Rsians say extramaral affairs are unacceptable, 62 percent disapprove of gamblg, and 44 percent say abortn is immoral.

[6 Thgs Rsians Thk Are More Acceptable Than Beg Gay]While the average Rsian may not attend church equently or pray fervently, the Orthodox Church still holds sway over public opn, Mikhailova said. 4) that harassment and vlence agast gays, lbians and bisexual and transgenr people Rsia is wispread and may be on the anonymo survey by The Rsian LGBT Network St. 3, a urt eastern Rsia sentenced three men to between ne and 12 years prison each for the beatg and stabbg ath of a man they believed to be gay, one of several recently reported crim allegedly motivated by anti-gay sentiment.

Holdg gay pri events, speakg fense of gay rights, or equatg gay and heterosexual relatnships n now rult f of up to $31, the vote, gay rights activists who attempted to hold a "kiss-" outsi the Duma were pelted wh eggs by Orthodox Christian and pro-Kreml activists. "The argument that a young person n be "propagandized" to turng gay may seem outdated (not to mentn an overtimatn of the power of propaganda), but 's actually not out of place morn Rsia. When a 23-year-old man Volgograd revealed he was gay to some drkg panns last month, they beat him, shoved beer bottl his an, and cshed his head wh a the Soviet Unn, homosexualy was a crime punishable by prison and hard labor, and Stalist anti-gay polici persisted throughout the 60s and 70s.

RSIA: THE UNTRY THAT HAT GAY PEOPLE

"When the Stal anti-homosexual law was repealed 1993, there was no amnty for those still stg prison for sodomy, " wrote history profsor Dan Healey, an expert on homosexualy Rsia, on the 90s, Rsians have faced credible enomic turmoil, a loss of public servic many areas, and wispread rptn -- all factors that be to rerce negative stereotyp.

"To the gree that a given society that is secure about s polil, social, enomic, and ung cultural inty, will mask that secury wh a swaggerg show of genred strength, " said Yvonne Howell, a Rsian profsor at the Universy of 16 percent of Rsians today say homosexualy should be accepted by society, pared wh 42 percent nearby (and also formerly munist) Poland.

"Wood went on to say an email: While there is plenty of homophobia Rsia, I thk the Soviet state ntued the Tsarist Orthodox state's directn of beg a moral and tutelary state -- the ntuy of state fluence over moral choic never died away. Rsian society remaed wily homophobic, and there were many who saw gays and lbians as an evable and evil Wtern import, but there were other thgs to worry about — reverg om the llapse of a polil-enomic system, clawg out of poverty, alg wh the explosn of vlence that engulfed a untry sudnly flowg wh sh and then me Vladimir spent the first two terms of his princy, om 2000 to 2008, lg wh no iology.

'WE'RE NOT HIDG': GAY AND LBIAN RSIANS SAY A CULTURAL SHIFT IS UNRWAY

" Th the law passed by the Duma jt hours after the anti-gay law was passed, makg "sultg relig believers" an offense punishable by up to three years send easit thg has been to monize the "Other, " creatg an ternal enemy for everyone to fear.

LGBT HATE CRIM DOUBLE RSIA AFTER BAN ON 'GAY PROPAGANDA'

It also grows spicn of the liberal opposn, prented as fundamentally "un-Rsian" as they stand up creasgly for gay rights amid Put's growg crackdown. And fally, allows Rsia to do what do bt the days: prent self as Not The is no accint that Rsia is strippg away gay rights as (popular and legal) support for gay marriage the U. As Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Rsian Orthodox Church, recently put : gay marriage is a "dangero apolyptic system" that leads a natn "on a path of self-stctn.

6 REASONS YOU NEED TO SEE HBO'S 'HUNTED: THE WAR AGAST GAYS IN RSIA''HUNTED: THE WAR AGAST GAYS RSIA' IS A HNTG LOOK AT THE NATN'S {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.25 "GRAVY",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#FFFFFF;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.25 "GRAVY",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#FFFFFF;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}LIFEBY GIL KFMANOCTOBER 7, 2014/9:01 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:574PX;WIDTH:1020PX;}HBO'HUNTED' BLDGBY GIL KFMANOCTOBER 7, 2014 / 9:01 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"6 REASONS YOU NEED TO SEE HBO'S 'HUNTED: THE WAR AGAST GAYS IN RSIA'","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2014-10-07T13:01:07.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2014-10-07T13:01:07.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"MTV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"MTV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1280,"HEIGHT":720}},"CREATOR":"GIL KFMAN","ARTICLESECTN":"LIFE"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN RSIA, GAY MEN AND WOMEN ARE "HUNTED LIKE ANIMALS." THAT'S THE CHILLG MSAGE HBO'S NEW DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE WAR AGAST LGBT RSIANS, "HUNTED: THE WAR AGAST GAYS RSIA."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THOUGH HOMOSEXUALY WAS LEGALIZED 20 YEARS AGO RSIA, HOMOPHOBIC VLENCE IS ON THE RISE THE UNTRY, AND ACRDG TO THE DOCUMENTARY, MIGHT BE A PLOT BY THE ERNMENT TO DISTRACT RSIANS OM THE NATN'S MANY PROBLEMS. THE SUATN IS SO BAD THAT 'S THOUGHT ONLY ONE PERCENT OF GAY AND LBIAN RSIANS LIVE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE FILM CHRONICL THE TIMIDATN, FEAR AND HARASSMENT FACED BY GAY AND LBIAN RSIANS ON A DAILY BASIS. HERE ARE THE 6 MOST CHILLG SCEN "HUNTED":{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}1. A FATHER'S FILM FTIVAL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN THE MOVIE, WE MEET TIMOR, A MARRIED FATHER AND JEWELRY SIGNER WHO NS THE "TRADNAL FAY VALU" GROUP PARENTS OF RSIA. WE WATCH AS HE AND A IEND, DMRI, PLOT TO DISPT A GAY FILM FTIVAL BY HANDG OUT GIFT BAGS WH SOAP AND A ROPE AND THE MSAGE, "KILL YOURSELF AND CLEANSE THE EARTH OF YOUR WICKEDNS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THIS IS RSIA. THIS IS HELL FOR HOMOSEXUALS," A SATISFIED TIMOR SAYS AFTER A BOMB THREAT IS LLED TO THE FTIVAL. IN RSIA, THERE ARE NO SUCH THG AS A GAY HATE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}2. VIGILANTE GROUPS ON THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN A DISTURBG TREND, HOMOPHOBIC VIGILANTE GROUPS HAVE STARTED TO HUNT GAY MEN AND ATTACK THEM FOR "FUN," POSTG THEIR TROPHY VIOS ONLE. THE CLIPS, VIEWED BY THOANDS, PICT BTAL ATTACKS AND HUIATNS, CLUDG ONE THAT LEFT A VICTIM BLD ONE EYE ON THE FIRST DAY THE "HUNTED" CREW BEGAN FILMG.HBO'HUNTED' {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}3. RSIAN ATTUS STUCK IN THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}EVEN AS ATTUS ABOUT HOMOSEXUALY HAVE CHANGED ACROSS MUCH OF EUROPE OVER THE PAST TWO S, ACRDG TO "HUNTED," OVER ONE-THIRD OF RSIANS THK THAT GAY PEOPLE SHOULD BE MEDILLY, OR PSYCHOLOGILLY TREATED. LAST YEAR, THE RSIAN PARLIAMENT UNANIMOLY PASSED A PROPAGANDA LAW THAT BANS ALL POSIVE AND NTRAL REFERENC TO "NON-TRADNAL" RELATNSHIPS THAT MIGHT BE SEEN BY ANYONE UNR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}4. THE RSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH IS FANNG THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}A PROMENT MEMBER OF THE RSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, FATHER SERGEI, PAR HOMOSEXUALY TO BTIALY THE FILM AND SUGGTS THAT IF LGBT RSIANS ARE ALLOWED TO LIVE OPENLY THAT WILL LEAD TO UNCHECKED PEDOPHILIA. THE BATN OF THE CHURCH'S ATTU AND THE ANTI-GAY LAWS ARE SEEN AS A NTRIBUTG FACTOR TO THE RISE ATTACKS AGAST GAY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}5. THE ONLE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHILE THE INTER HAS BEEN A REFUGE FOR GAY RSIANS, ANTI-GAY GROUPS HAVE BEGUN G SOCIAL MEDIA TO LURE VICTIMS TO VLENT TRAPS. WHILE ANIZATNS LIKE "OCCUPY PEDOPHILIA" CLAIM THEY ARE ONLY GOG AFTER CHILD MOLTERS, MANY UPLOAD VIOS OF VIC BEATGS OF GAY MEN WHO HAVE BEEN LURED BY PROMIS OF SEX DURG OUTGS THE GROUPS LL "SAFARIS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}6. FIGHTG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHILE THE VIGILANTE GROUPS NTUE TO MOUNT ATTACKS AND THORI TURN A BLD EYE, SOME GAY GROUPS ARE BUCKG THE LAW AGAST GAY PROPAGANDA AND ARE SPEAKG OUT AGAST THE VLENCE. IN THE FILM WE MEET VETERAN ACTIVIST KIRIL, WHO IS SHOWN ANIZG A PROTT. BUT, BEE GAY GROUPS NNOT GET PERMS, HE AND HIS LLEAGU MT MOUNT SGLE-PERSON ACTNS ON THE STREETS OF THEIR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BEE OF THE LAWS, THOUGH, THE PROTTERS HAVE TO AVOID ANY MENTN OF HOMOSEXUALY THEIR ACTNS, AND EVEN THEN THEY FACE HARASSMENT OM POLICE. IN ADDN, MANY YOUNG LGBT RSIANS ARE AAID TO E OUT AND GAY UPL WH CHILDREN LIVE FEAR OF HAVG THEIR KIDS TAKEN WAY OM {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FOR MORE RMATN ON LGBT EQUALY THIS UNTRY CHECK OUT LOOK {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

"I thk the most ridiculo qutns e up durg the y of an empire, " said Anton Krasovsky, a proment Rsian journalist recently fired for beg gay, when asked why the "gay qutn" had sudnly emerged Rsia. In their latt report on Rsia, tled License to Harm, HRW fds the Rsian thori have not only “failed their obligatn to prevent and prosecute homophobic vlence, ” but have also “effectively legalized discrimatn agast LGBT people and st them as send class cizens.

The report go on to document var horrific stanc of vlence and abe agast Rsia’s LGBT muny, cludg by radil natnalist groups lurg gay men on the pretext of a fake date. Laws explicly banng homosexualy were lifted 1993, after the Soviet llapse – though there was no amnty for those jailed for sodomy – but the attu appears to have stuck.

And particularly where that base of support is close to relig views, there is a lot of crossover there that works for polil opportunists who are g official forms of homophobia to fe their polil That is Dan Healey, profsor of Rsian history at the Universy of Oxford.

10 COUNTRI THAT COMPLETELY HATE GAY PEOPLE

As an unspectg dience looked on, the men hoisted a shirtls lleague above their heads, placed a ncrete block on his stomach that suggted gay people should be killed, and proceed to smash the symbolic object wh what appeared to be a sledgehammer.