As Olympics in Russia approach, gay scene shrinks in Sochi
For some time, Sochi was one of Russia’s top gay scenes. But after the coastal city was chosen as the site for the 2014 Olympics and President Vladimir Putin signed a “gay propaganda” law into action, Sochi’s LGBT scene has been shrinking.
Reuters photographer Thomas Peter documented slices of LGBT life in Sochi in October, about four months before the 2014 Winter Olympics were slated to begin.
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- Gay rights activist Vladislav Slavsky (left) poses for a photograph with his boyfriend, who wants to remain anonymous, in a park near the Black Sea promenade in Sochi, southwestern Russia, October 21, 2013. During Soviet times, Sochi gained a reputation for tolerance. But the city’s once vibrant gay scene has been shrinking since Russia won the right to host the 2014 Winter Olympics. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)
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- People watch as a drag queen takes part in a performance at Mayak, a gay cabaret club in Sochi, southwestern Russia, October 28, 2013. During Soviet times, Sochi gained a reputation for tolerance but the city’s once vibrant gay scene has been shrinking since Russia won the right to host the 2014 Winter Olympics. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)
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- A man participates in a drag performance at Mayak, a gay cabaret club in Sochi, Russia, October 28, 2013. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)
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- A performer prepares to take part in a drag show backstage at Mayak, a gay cabaret club in Sochi, Russia, October 28, 2013. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)
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- Performers prepare to take part in a drag show backstage at Mayak, a gay cabaret club in Sochi, Russia October 28, 2013. In 2013, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law banning the spread of “gay propaganda” among minors.Some activists have called for a boycott of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi in protest. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)
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- Performers prepare to take part in a drag show backstage at Mayak, a gay cabaret club in Sochi, Russia, October 28, 2013. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)
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- A performer prepares to take part in a drag show backstage at Mayak, a gay cabaret club in Sochi, Russia, October 28, 2013. During Soviet times, Sochi gained a reputation for tolerance but the city’s once vibrant gay scene has been shrinking since Russia won the right to host the 2014 Winter Olympics. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)
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- A man strips during a drag performance at Mayak, a gay cabaret club in Sochi, Russia. Since Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law banning the spread of “gay propaganda” among minors, anti-gay attitudes have become more prominent and violence against LGBT individuals is on the rise. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)
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- Andrey Tanichev, co-owner of gay cabaret club Mayak, poses for a photograph in his venue in Sochi, Russia, October 28, 2013. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)
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- Gay rights activist Vladislav Slavsky poses for a photograph in a construction pipe at the beach in Sochi, Russia, October 21, 2013. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)
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- People watch a drag performance at Mayak, a gay cabaret club in Sochi, Russia, October 28, 2013. During Soviet times, Sochi gained a reputation for tolerance but the city’s once vibrant gay scene has been shrinking since Russia won the right to host the 2014 Winter Olympics. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)
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- Gay rights activist Vladislav Slavsky poses for a photograph with his boyfriend, who wants to remain anonymous, at the Black Sea promenade in Sochi, Russia, October 21, 2013. This year Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law banning the spread of “gay propaganda” among minors. His increasingly conservative social agenda has boosted the role of the Russian Orthodox Church, whose leader has suggested homosexuality is one of Russia’s biggest threats, and given more air time to anti-homosexual rhetoric on media outlets. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)
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- A woman walks past gay cabaret club The Mayak in Sochi, Russia, October 29, 2013. This year Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law banning the spread of “gay propaganda” among minors. The new law has focused attention on Sochi, which will host many foreigners as well as Russians during the Olympics. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)
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As Olympics in Russia Approach, Gay Scene Shrinks in Sochi | Lavender Magazine
Jan 02, 2014 @ 17:51:01
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