Lena's first Halloween in America, Homosexuality in Russia, & Boris Moiseyev - Russian Ukrainian Belarus Travel Music Woman Dating News

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Lena's first Halloween in America, Homosexuality in Russia, & Boris Moiseyev
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Posted by: Khashyar

Lena and I had a fun time on Halloween this year

Lena had never experienced a Halloween before, and so was exciting that the BIGGEST Halloween celebration in the U.S. just so happened to take place in West Hollywood (which is right next to where we live in Hollywood)...

Every year, about a half million people attend this outdoor Halloween "carnaval" in West Hollywood (which is a city principly known in the L.A. area as being a center of Gay culture in Southern California)....

On Halloween, men and women (and mostly men) dress up in elaborate and often flambouyant costumes, and the several closed blocks of Santa Monica Boulevard have a feeling of Mardi Gras....

Actually.... Lena had never been around so many gay men before (since about half of the people at the carnaval were gay men).... and she seemed accepting of the whole atmosphere....

I think that she was also amazed at the outlandish atmosphere at the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval, as many men dressed up as women, and in the spirit of fun, people were behaving in funny and comically shocking ways...

(You can see some photos of Lena and some of the people who were roaming the streets of the Carnaval in the Russian Photo Galleries)....

Regarding Homosexuality and Russian culture....

I think that it is less accepted in Russia than it is in big cities in America..... (My understanding is that it is much more accepted in Europe...)

Lena has told me that Homosexuality was not open in her town of Mogilev (Belarus), but I have heard that it is more accepted in Moscow, although still not as accepted in Los Angeles, New York, or other large U.S. cities...

I don't really know what the cultural Russian beliefs are regarding Homosexuality (perhaps someone else could elaborate about this)....

One of Russia's most famous singers and dancers, Boris Moiseyev, is gay, and also very successful...

Lena's family actually knew Moiseyev and his family:

Boris' mother worked at a Mogilev factory that Lena's grandfather managed, and where Lena's grandmother worked....

Lena's grandmother told Lena that one day, Moiseyev's mother went for a vacation on the Black Sea, and then she came back pregnant and later gave birth to Boris...

In Lena's grandmother's time, Lena says, it was unusual for a Russian woman to have and raise a child by herself....

Lena's mother went to summer camp and dance school with Boris, although it seemed that the dance talent rubbed off on Boris and not Lena's mom

Regarding homosexuality in Russia, the most famous recent group is the group Tatu-- a lesbian duo that is doing quite well commercially...

Khashyar

Posted by: Aaron Chase

I was once looking up Vladivostok, and a photographer had taken some photos of gay couples. I forgot where excactly I found this site though. If I find it, I'll post a link. Vera has told me that mostly young kids listen to Tatu, which isn't such a bad thing if the new generation of russians learns to be more tolerant of gays and lesbians in the new Russia.....

Posted by: andrei

TRUTH #1:

TATU ARE NOT LESBIANS! THEY'RE PLAYING! THEY BOTH HAVE OFFICIAL BOYFRIENDS AND EVERYBODY KNOWS IT.

Regarding gays in Russia, everyone around me (myself too) is sure that homosexuality is a psychiatric disease. I'll never treat gays the same way as normal men. I never attack them))))))))), but I never pay respect to'em either.

Back in the day when we were kids if a gay stepped out of his home he used to get beat up on the regular. In any city except Moscow & St. Pete, it can happen too. Russia is a "machoist" country, regular gays (non-stars) are afraid to reveal themselves.

Posted by: ConnerVT

I thought every night was Halloween night in West Hollywood...

Posted by: Aaron Chase

Andrei, it really makes no difference if they're Bi either. Hopefully their fans are just learning that no matter what or who you prefer, love is really all that matters, not hatred and homophobia....

Posted by: Rockydog

"Violent, racially motivated attacks on people of color and foreigners have become widespread in Russia. Many of these attacks target university students, particularly those of Asian and African origin, but older tourists have also been targeted. Travelers are urged to exercise caution in areas frequented by "skinhead" groups and wherever large groups have gathered. Incidents of violent crime directed against homosexual men have also been reported. Four foreign men reported to have been gay have been murdered since 1999."

http://travel.state.gov/russia.html

Unbelievable amount of information about Gays traveling to Russia.

Never thought I would be looking into the gay lifestyle in Russia.

Eddie....

Posted by: Jutman

When we lady visit me, we were in Copenhagen. She was pretty amazed to see girls holds hands with other girls (boys holds hands with boys). And of course the high light was when two gays kissed in public.

She liked it. She like the tolerance, because it is not where she come from. Because of the lack of men, she believe there is more lesbian than gay men. During our relationship she once had been hit by a collegue who were lesbian.

She refused of course.

Posted by: ShermanAtlanta

My Ellen also enjoyed Halloween as well as her daughter. It seems to be a unique American holiday. As far as gays, Atlanta is a popular place for homosexuals and Ellen is constantly amazed at the number of Rosie Girls and Blue Men that she sees here. To me it is normal and there is no prejudice that I can see.
Sherman

Posted by: andrei

Quote:

Originally posted by ShermanAtlanta
As far as gays, Atlanta is a popular place for homosexuals and Ellen is constantly amazed at the number of Rosie Girls and Blue Men that she sees here. To me it is normal and there is no prejudice that I can see.
Sherman

Lucky you

I think I'd die if I found myself surrounded by perverts

Posted by: Khashyar

My perception about homosexuality in Russia is that it is not really an accepted practice in Russia...

However, I think that it is much more accepted in LARGER Russian cities like Moscow or St. Petersburg...

Lena just told me today that a friend's brother of Lena's who is from Mogilev and is gay left Mogilev a year ago to live in France, and tried to apply for assylum on the grounds that his well-being was threatened in Belarus because he is gay...

The French government rejected his claim and asked him to leave the country in one month... However, he plans on getting married in Holland (or some EU country that has legal homosexual marriages) to his male partner (who he lives with in France) so that he would be able to stay in Europe...

I know that, as Andrei mentioned, that many people feel that Homosexuality is pathological and immoral... I think that this view and acceptance of Homosexuality differs based upon whree a person lives... In Los Angeles or San Francisco, obviously, homosexuality is much more accepted than in Waco, Texas or in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma...

I wonder if the perception of homosexuality is different in Moscow (where there are a lot of people working in the arts and where there are more international influences) as opposed to somewhere like Irkutsk (Siberia)?

We don't need to discuss this topic at length, but... it does seem interesting to better understand the views about Homosexuality in Russia...

Khashyar

Posted by: andrei

Quote:

Originally posted by Khashyar

I wonder if the perception of homosexuality is different in Moscow (where there are a lot of people working in the arts and where there are more international influences) as opposed to somewhere like Irkutsk (Siberia)?

Khashyar

Of course it is.
The only social layer where it's accepted is show business. If you want to do any other kinda business you should keep your homosexuality a secret. Gays in Siberia are outcasts. Nothing in this world would make me make friends with a gay.

Lesbians are a totally different thing tho. Among the youth, it is considered luck if a guy has a lesbian friend. Because sooner or later she turns out to be bisexual.

Posted by: ConnerVT

Quote:

Originally posted by andrei
THEY BOTH HAVE OFFICIAL BOYFRIENDS...

"Official boyfriends"? Gee, you can get just about anything stamped and notarized in Russia...

Posted by: andrei

Quote:

Originally posted by ConnerVT
"Official boyfriends"? Gee, you can get just about anything stamped and notarized in Russia...

I mean, it ain't no secret. For sure it's not notarized))

Posted by: barry

Khashyar,

Oxana tells me that in Kazakstan, homosexuality is not accepted or tolerated in any form by society as a whole. If one whishes to practice this lifestyle they best keep it in the closet, in the closet in the furthest corner of the basement because not only is it illegal and imoral, but the authorities will not pursue the perpatraitors of violence against homosexuals.

As far as our personal opinions, how others choose to love and express their sexuality is none of our business. Although she is glad that homosexuals here do not have to risk life and limb, she does not mind public displays of affection as long as it does not involve kissing and groping. As costume parties including men dressing as women were common for her to attend, the drag queens are well accepted and to some degree admired for the creativity.

Posted by: Khashyar

Barry.... That's interesting that your wife went to costume parties in Kaz. where men dressed in drag

I would not have expected that...

I also agree that a person has a right to his or her private sexual life, and perhaps because I have been involved in the arts, I respect a person whether they are gay or not gay...

I can also understand that if someone has not spoken to many homosexuals, or has been brought up being told that it is wrong, might feel uncomfortable with the idea of homosexuality.

I can imagine, as Andrei wrote, that becuase being gay is not accepted, and even may result in persecution, that homosexuals do not reveal this fact about themselves and keep it in hiding in Russia....

I don't want to spend a lot of time on this subject... but, I think it is interesting to understand the Russian cultural view about homosexuality....

Khashyar

Posted by: andrei

Quote:

Originally posted by barry
Khashyar,

As costume parties including men dressing as women were common for her to attend, the drag queens are well accepted and to some degree admired for the creativity.

Oh my God what's the world's going to. Next time y'all are gonna what, admire necrophilia for the uncommonness, or adore sadists for the spontaneity?

Thank God that I live in a society were drag queens don't even exist, and gays are thrown out of every party if they ever dare to start their kiss-n-hug thing.

You can criticize me now, I don't care.

Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Andrei...

I respect your right to express your opinion and beliefs in the forum

And of course others can disagree with you, and express their differnt opinion, while at the same time responding to you with respect...

It's interesting to read about what Siberians think about all issues, since I rarely am able to speak with someone from Siberia...

Khashyar

Posted by: Vyesna

I think that homosexuality is not considered a big deal in the big cities, although it's not as open as NY or SF obviously and most urban people have a "live and let live" attitude towards gays. Probably skinhead types would be abusive, but they pretty much beat up on everyone.

However, I don't think you'll see a Russian version of "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" anytime soon. It's too bad, because some of the men over there could really use the makeover.

No offense Andrei if you are in fact a fashion stud.

Posted by: Khashyar

Thanks for your insight, Vyesna...

By the way, what does your (Russian) husband think about homosexuals and homosexuality?

I'm curious about what his perspective is...

As I understand, you and your husband had a new baby during the past few months, right? Congratulations

Khashyar

Posted by: andrei

Quote:

Originally posted by Vyesna

"Queer Eye for the Straight Guy"

WHAT DOES THIS STUFF MEAN?

I mean, I dont know this expression.

Posted by: Khashyar

Andrei...

"Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" is a tv show in America where 5 gay men take a stright non-gay man and give him fashion advice about how to dress and how to decorate his apartment...

It's quite a successful t.v. show in the U.S.

I haven't watched it, but I ahve heard that it is entertaining and funny...

(Maybe they should have a version of this show in Russia

)

Khashyar

Posted by: ConnerVT

stud noun

Slang
1. A man regarded as virile and sexually active.
2. A man regarded as attractive.

If either of these describe you, Andrei, I don't know...

FYI -- a great Internet dictionary can be found at Dictionary.com

Posted by: andrei

Quote:

Originally posted by Khashyar
Andrei...

"Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" is a tv show in America where 5 gay men take a stright non-gay man and give him fashion advice about how to dress and how to decorate his apartment...

It's quite a successful t.v. show in the U.S.

I haven't watched it, but I ahve heard that it is entertaining and funny...

(Maybe they should have a version of this show in Russia )

Khashyar

Maybe they should have a show where five proctologists take a passive gay and tell him what will happen when his anal sphincter malfunctions due to pathological sex and fails to keep his feces inside his rectum??? Maybe when they show him all the pictures regarding that problem and bring in a gay who already occasionally drops his feces in his pants???

MAYBE AFTER THAT GAYS WILL REALISE THAT THEY'RE S I C K ???????

Posted by: Vyesna

Paranoid people need treatment but usually don't know it.

To answer your question Khashyar, I'm not entirely sure exactly what my husband thinks about homosexuality and all the issues surrounding it because we haven't discussed it in detail. However, he never points out homosexuality on tv as something disgusting or anything like that and generally he seems to take a live and let live attitude. I suspect he wouldn't be big on gay marriage and the like-- but I also suspect he hasn't thought about it much. One time when I was a summer associate he went out with me and our colleagues and one of the associates was gay and brought his boyfriend. They started making out in the bar we were in (which I thought was entirely inappropriate for either a gay or straight person to do in front of his or her colleagues, but that's another issue) and my husband, not having seen that sort of gay display of affection in public before said to my boss, who was sitting next to him-- "Those two men are kissing!" My boss related this story to me later and I just laughed and explained that he didn't have anything against it, he just never saw it before (I talked to my husband about the incident and that's what he said-- it just isn't the sort of thing he was exposed to before). So I would say while he isn't running to join the parade to show his support on gay pride day, he isn't really bothered by gay people generally.

I work in a big city law firm and we have quite a few gay lawyers here, including a partner. All of them are considered among the nicest people in the firm, and in particular the partner, who everyone likes to work with because he's much nicer than most of the others. All of them are very professional, easy to get along with and there is nothing strange or sick about them. The only reason anyone knows they're gay is because here we have a supportive atmosphere and they don't have to hide it or avoid talking about it.
Yes we did have a baby, he just turned four months old. Thanks for remembering.

Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Vyesna...

Thanks for sharing some of your husband's perspective...

I think we some different views about this topic, and I personally am ready to move on

Khashyar

Posted by: Samurai_Bob