Two Russian bloggers say they faced threats and violence when they walked through Moscow streets holding hands to gauge attitudes toward gays.
The men, who are straight and run a popular video blog, say they decided to use a hidden camera to record reactions in an "experiment" after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling recognizing same-sex marriage.
"We decided to check why people can walk holding hands over there without any problem, and what if we conduct such an experiment in Russia," said Yevgeny Babenko.
The two men walked hand-in-hand around Moscow for about an hour, encountering verbal insults and outright violence.
On Red Square, the video showed two men shouting an anti-gay slur at them. Elsewhere in central Moscow, one man tried to push them off the pavement.
The two men said they were shocked to discover the outright hostility on the streets of the Russian capital.
"This walk lasted just one hour," Artyom Frantsuzov said. "If a young couple walks like this every day, there will be consequences."
Gays face widespread discrimination in Russia, which passed a law in 2013 imposing fines for spreading "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations" to minors. The Russian government says the law aims to protect children but does not infringe of the rights of gays.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
