A leading Russian gay rights activist spoke Thursday on Russia’s anti-gay legislation and the extreme hate she has witnessed in advocating against it — hate she says poses a threat to her life each day.
“Russia is the family values capital of the world, and I’m the biggest threat to this,” Russian LGBT activist Masha Gessen said in her speech.
“Now if a week goes by without a clear death threat, that’s interesting, like they’ve somehow forgotten about me.”
Gessen, who is a contributor to The New York Times, plans to publish a book called “Words Will Break Cement: The Passion of Pussy Riot,” in March.
Gessen’s speech focused on the parallels between Russia’s socially conservative laws and the nation’s recent propaganda campaign against homosexuality.
Gessen said the reelection of President Vladimir Putin in March 2012 and his emphasis on certain family values, such as the duty of all Russians to reproduce, contributed to the crackdown on gay protests.
She said she was initially optimistic during the protest period, but she now thinks that the longer the crackdown goes on, the worse the chances are that anything good will come of it.
Since Putin’s reelection, the Russian Parliament has passed laws designed to paralyze gay activism and protests, Gessen said.
“In September 2012, laws on espionage and treason were amended,” Gessen said. “That means you can jail anyone for anything — I’m not exaggerating.”