Meet the Russian gay teen fighting back against Putin | Gay Star News

This article is about a gay teenager living in Russia, whose name is Kirill.

Kirill said: ‘Life as an LGBT teenager in Russia is not sweet and pleasant. The adoption of this law has affected my life, I understand now we cannot live in this country. Prior to the adoption of the law I thought that everything can change.’

While many countries continue to become more tolerant of homosexuality by introducing marriage equality, Russia has continued to regress its LGBT rights. Kirill agrees: ‘There is a growth of homophobia going on in Russian society, homosexuality is a taboo topic again.’

Being openly gay in Russia has meant Kirill has lost all of his friends. ‘My environment is not tolerant towards gays. My mother pretends she does not know, she’s a homophobe.’

Kirill only knows other gay people like him through social networking.

‘Using Facebook and Twitter has great significance for me, it’s free of Russian conspiracy. I’m happy that access to these social networks is unlocked in Russia,' he said.