LGBTQ Russia
With controversy surrounding the recent anti-gay laws enacted in Russia (which prohibits gay propaganda aimed at children) it is worthwhile revealing the extent of LGBTQ individuals in that country, both historically and today.
As one would expect in such a hostile climate, information is sparse. However, to date we have profiled a large number of high-profile Russian individuals who have identified as LGBTQ.
Notably, the majority of these individuals come from the arts community - dancers, poets, composers, and writers. What of other fields such as science, politics, business, and sports? Undoubtedly, LGBTQ individuals exist in these communities but it is difficult for them to self-identify as LGBTQ. In fact, many of the Russians who have self-identified have been forced into exile as a result.
Do you know:
- the award-winning LGBTQ poet who is editor of the poetry magazine 'Vozdukh'?
- the great composer of opera's 'Boris Godunov'?
- the great art deco designer noted for his extravagant costume designs for the Folies Bergere?
- the great Russian promoter who introduced the Bolshoi Ballet to western audiences, and its great LGBTQ ballet dancer?
Read on for the answers:
- Nikolay Alexeyev (also known as Nikolai Alekseyev), Activist
- Andrey Bartenev, Artist
- Odin Biron, Actor
- Yuri Bogatyryov, Film and theatre actor
- Georgy Chicherin, Politics
- Sergey Diaghilev, Entertainment
- Sergei Eisenstein, Filmmaker
- Erte (also known as Romain de Tirtoff), Designer
- Nikolai Gogol, Writer
- Yelena Goltsman, Activist
- Sergei Ilupin, Activist
- Kril Kalugin, Activist
- Alexander Kargaltsev, Artist, Photographer
- Yevgeny Kharitonov, Entertainment
- Igor Kochetkov, Activist
- Anton Krasovsky, Journalist
- Dmitry Kuzmin, Poet
- Mikhail Kuzmin, Writer
- Yulia Lemigova, Model
- Serge Lifar, Ballet
- Slava Mogutin, Artist
- Boris Moiseyev (also known as Boris Moiseev), Musician
- Modest Mussorgsky, Composer
- Alla Nazimova, Actor
- Vaslav Nijinski, Ballet
- Rudolf Nureyev, Ballet
- Sophia Yakovlevna Parnok, Poet
- Valery Pereleshin, Poet
- Marc-Andre Raffalovich, Writer
- Viktor Romanov, Sports Activist
- Poliksena Sergeevna Solovieva, Writer
- Valery Solaseav, Activist
- Konstantin Somov, Painter
- Sergey Sovkov, Painter
- Peter Illyich Tchaikovsky, Composer
- Pavel Tchelitchew, Painter
- Gennady Nikolaevich Trifonov, Poet
- Marina Ivanovna Tsvetaeva, Poet
- Konstantin Yablotskiy, Figure Skater
- Igor Yassin, Activist
