The head of Russia's most visible gay rights group is using his political skills to bring change to a country known for institutionalized homophobia

BY CHRISTOPHER LISOTTA

For two years Nikolai Alexeyev and his organization Gay Russia have been organizing a Pride march in Moscow. Alexeyev has made international headlines for his demonstrations, often battling directly with the city's virulently anti-gay mayor Yuri Luzhkov. By taking the fight to the media, Alexeyev is getting the issue of LGBT rights in Russia discussed in ways that would have been considered inconceivable just a few years ago. Frontiers spoke to Alexeyev when he was in Los Angeles to receive a Hero award during the International Mr. Gay competition. The third Moscow Gay Pride is planned for May.

FRONTIERS: What is the LGBT community like in Russia?

Nikolai Alexeyev: The Russian gay community was politically very much in the closet for more than 30 years. Criminal prosecution for homosexual relations was abolished in 1983. Since then all the activity went to business, nothing was done and basically in 2005 we started to bring this topic back to the political agenda in Russia. We succeeded a lot because this is now openly discussed by politicians, it is in the media, it is shown on TV, and we continue to have our actions not only for gay pride, but also other issues. In September we had protest against the ban on the blood donation by homosexual people. We had protests during the elections. At the (Sept. 2) Parliamentary elections, when we came to vote at the same polling station as the mayor of Moscow, where we spoiled the ballot papers, and wrote “no to homophobes,” because all the parties are homophobic and not supportive of LGBT rights.

The mayor in particular?

He's the one that banned both Prides in Moscow. He is the one who created the atmosphere of total impossibility of conducting any public actions by LGBT people, and as soon as you apply for notification about public events, and if you mention the word homosexuality, gay, homophobia, whatever, it is automatically banned, because they consider it a threat to security.

How many people were there this year?

About 200 gay people wanted to demonstrate, plus about the same number of protestors—and 8,000 policemen. We know very well, probably 100 policemen would be enough to protect if the event is authorized. (The mayor)'s part homophobic. He's the one meeting with the (openly gay) European mayors, the mayor of Paris, mayor of Berlin. He's still meeting with them, discussing things with them, even standing next to them, he is saying homosexuality is unnatural and not normal.

What is discrimination like from the Russian people? Is it just homophobia among the political class?

I think the majority of Russian people just don't care. I can't say it is a very homophobic country. The role of the church is very important right now, and they have regained all their influence since the collapse of the Soviet Union when they were very much repressed. Now I think it is the period when the Russian authorities and Russian Orthodox Church found a way to unite together in what they are doing. The church is supporting all the activities of these people in power, and the people in power are very happy the church is supporting them.

Do you think the atmosphere is changing rapidly? Will change come quickly?

That's what we are doing. The gay pride is not done just for gay pride. The gay pride is not done just to realize our constitutional right to (assembly). By doing this pride we are trying to bring this issue to the political agenda. We are trying to raise some other issues. Gay pride attracts all the media. The first press conference we had in May 2005 that we got when we started, there was not a single journalist present. Then we started to develop. The last press conference we had in May, was probably 100 journalists and 20 TV cameras present. It was unbelievable. It was the most attended press conference on gay topics in Russian history. By using this, we can bring lots of issues to attention. It's developing. The topic is discussed. We have a case against Russia in the European Court of Human Rights in France. The decision of the court will be obligatory and they will not be able to ignore it. As soon as it is delivered, we will probably have less problems in what we are doing.

Do you feel personally at risk because of the very public positions you take?

It depends. Sometimes no, sometimes yes. I can't say I'm not fearful of anything—that would be ridiculous. Yes, I am scared sometimes when we are doing some things which can annoy some people. But the problem is I'm in such direct confrontation with the Moscow mayor, and we have such bad relations, and everyone knows this, so for him it is better to protect me than to do something.