Being Goluboy In Russia

Goluboy is Russian slang for being a gay man. I believe the Russian word goluboy translates to 'blue.' Currently there is an incredible battle going on between the homophobes and the Russian gays over what might become Russia's first Gay Pride Parade.

The argument against the parade almost is comical only because it sounds so communist. Inna Svyatenko, chairwoman of Moscow City Council's security commission, sites these 3 reasons why the parade is not a good idea:

"that much of the gay community allegedly oppose it themselves

that similar events in East European capital cities like Riga last year ended in violent clashes

that the preferred route would cause massive traffic disruption."

Thankfully people are starting to come out of the closet and to the aid of Russia's gays. One of these people is the of Oscar Wilde, Merlin Holland. Holland doesn't live in Russia but according to a news report sent a letter to Russian President Putin that read, "I am happy to add my voice to those raised in protest against homophobia; my grandfather was imprisoned in 1895 simply for being a homosexual and our family was almost destroyed as a result."

Also a Russian activist had this to say about the government's stand on the parade permit, "If people had really maintained the status quo in our history, the Cold War would have never ended, Boris Yeltsin would have never come to power and homosexuality would still be a crime in Russia."

Here in the States we've become very comfortable, I think we quickly forget, at times, just how hard a struggle it has been and continues to be for our rights. However, as far as we feel we've come there is a massive country that is where we were decades ago.

What an awful affair for the young goluboy of Russia.