Thread: Gay foreigners learning Russian

Originally Posted by interprete

diplaying on their front doors 'faggots not allowed' signs, like this apparently:
http://varlamov.me/2017/samiy_dorogoi_hleb/00s.jpg

Not sure how true this is... but this makes me fear that the general attitude toward gays is not exactly relaxed, and I hope I'm wrong...

The sign is probably some kind of a "black humor".

But - generally - it`s not ok to be gay in Russia. No one will know for sure unless you tell, but my advice would be to avoid provocative cloth, haircuts, conduct... Don`t smile too much to strangers (I`m not kidding). On the other hand, I see lots of lesbian girls in St Petersburg, sometimes even male couples - mostly in the city center. So the truth would be to smother the personal life questions like..

but then they would wonder how come a guy in his 30's is still single.

...
1. Busy man (high achiever with not much free time). 2. Broke up recently, still suffer, no impetus to find a new one...

Stay safe.

Originally Posted by Serge_spb

Don`t smile too much to strangers (I`m not kidding).

That's going to be difficult for me, after spending several years in a country where everybody smiles all the time!

But thanks a lot for the ideas, I think the scenario about a recent breakup is a good one. I hope I won't make any inconsistent mistake in my story and get busted

Originally Posted by interprete

I hope I won't make any inconsistent mistake in my story and get busted

You do not have to explain anything except in police station. No smile, no responsibility for strangers. Don't worry and stay cool.

Originally Posted by Alex80

You do not have to explain anything except in police station. No smile, no responsibility for strangers. Don't worry and stay cool.

I think they don't have to explain anything even in a police station (some formal questions, that's all). Besides police stations don't speak English)