Rainbow over Brighton: Why LGBT still feel discriminated in the Russian neighborhood

Brighton Beach is a legendary neighborhood in New York City, a “little Odesa,” an old oasis of Russian immigration. For a lot of hearts; This is a question of how to find out where you’re looking for. speaking neighborhood. However, there is a lot of effort to make it out. It often happens that they are subject to discrimination and persecution at home. However, even across the ocean, in Brighton, they are still up “being at home”. ForumDaily looks like the residents of Brighton Beach.

Brighton Beach Pride in May 2017. Photos by Nikita Burukhin

Risking your life at work

Dima and Misha moved to New York City from St. St. Petersburg in February 2017, fleeing from police brutality: threatened to jail the couple. Dima was hailing from CIS countries. In the store, he faced unpleasing outcomes of working in the “Russian neighborhood.”

Photo from personal archive

“One evening, a family entered a store, a woman, a man, and two kids. I’m a store manager, ” Dmitry says. “The woman sawed him smoking and rudely asked him to leave. He said he wouldn’t be able to go away. However, the woman was kept insisting that he put out his cigarette and the left the store. Her companion I lost my patience. We were immediately dubbed “fagg # ts” and “shit- # sses.” We knew what the store was. We’ve been making a song. After all, it has remained the same as the bus stop. Eventually, the man approached me and started strangling. Of course, he was taken in the precinct ... "

See the United States from the former USSR countries. “It’s a messy day and a half ago” he says.

Brighton Beach Pride in May 2017. Photos by Nikita Burukhin

He says the LGBT community is huge. “This is a marshal, a group leader,” Dmitry says. “I’m not a single negative shout or disdain look from the public. Give a hug; they cheered when they saw the column from CIS countries. ”

Observers' reaction to Brighton Beach Pride in May 2017. Photos by Nikita Burukhin

Brighton Beach Pride in May 2017. Photos by Nikita Burukhin

American dream of living without fear

The United States compared to the former Soviet countries. The First Amendment. It has been considered that it is the flag of the queer culture. Harvey Milk was born here, Stonewall riots took place here; gay and lesbian studies This is where the LGBT movement was initiated. The land of freedom is not just a name for the gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people from the post-Soviet area. There are no questions about this.

23-year-old Kirill (name has been changed for privacy purposes) is one of them. Kirill arrived in the US in late 2016. He is settled down in New York City but he wants to avoid visiting Russian-speaking neighborhoods.

Photo from personal archive

“As a gay, I avoid this place!” Kirill says of brighton beach. “I’m steer clear from it holy water. I’m fled to get into this hell again? Brighton is a negative, unpleasing, intolerant and unfriendly place ... That would be enough to say. But for me. Why would people like to taste, culture, traditions, and leisure? ”

Although Kirill never shows up at Brighton, the neighborhood 'showed up' at his place anyway. In the nyc of the subway

“Where they should go, where they should go, burn, and hang,” Kirill says. He decided to take his mirror and doll up on purpose. He heard an offensive comment. He wondered and he would go for church, along with regular gay offenses.

X-NUMX-year-old Stepan N. fled from the United States. He's been living in NYC. Stepan had a chance to meet his compatriots here: In addition, you can’t even be able to find out. more due to specific migration laws.

Photo from personal archive

It has been noted that it can be seen that it has reached a level of peace.

“I used to work as a packager in an online selling company. There, I faced colleagues' jokes about 'fagg # ts' so I had to leave, ” he says.

At the same time, Stepan realizes these situations cannot be completely eliminated from communication with the Russian-speaking community.

“Unfortunately, there are many people who leave Russia and formerly countries have the same mindset here; they do not want to adapt. ” he says.

Stepan is regularly involved in “clashes” with Russian neighborhoods that end badly for him. Even a walk might be a disaster. “I was walking once alongside the boardwalk at Brighton with a young man, we were holding hands,” Stepan says. “We heard some people shouting“ Fagg # ots! Look, the fagg # ots there! ”But no one approached us personally.”

Russian-speaking LGBT people feel like “at home among strangers” in New York City. As a rule, every newcomer would instinctively seek to support his community. But gay immigrants do not feel the same. From the Russian-speaking communities. “We are a couple,” two gay people working in a small business say. “They don't need to know. For most of them are Russians. ”

Discrimination, lack of understanding, bullying - this is what most of the time. It is not a matter of the community. This is the most importantly those who haven’t been commenting. It’s easy to understand: It’s easy to understand it. it). It is a good idea to bring Russians to the world. And LGBT newcomers are forced to adapt to these sentiments because they often don’t have a choice. Where is your income? English speaking skills? Of course, only Russian area residents will be: Brighton Beach and Sheepshead Bay, Coney Island, Bensonhurst.

Brighton Beach Pride in May 2017. Photos by Nikita Burukhin

The prominent brighton pride beach

2017 was next to a sensation. Although it can be used regularly, it is not a bad idea. But they just shy away from that. And Brighton has long been deemed a veto territory.

Still, on the rainbow flags were followed along the ocean edge followed by camera flashes, and drizzle. “This is our city! We are queer, we are here! ”The attendees shouted. “Everyone will get their sausage.” It means that it’s a funny thing to do. the US in the 1990s. The real savers of immigrants are the real group of young people.

Brighton Beach Pride in May 2017. Photos by Nikita Burukhin

Brighton Beach Pride in May 2017. Photos by Nikita Burukhin

Brighton Beach Pride in May 2017. Photos by Nikita Burukhin

Brighton Beach Pride in May 2017. Photos by Nikita Burukhin

He was a lawyer, co-president of the RUSA LGBT, activist and public speaker. 2014 Gay immigrants in Russian speaking areas are still forced to hide.

“It's not some ungrounded fear,” Gorshkov says. “Verbal and sometimes physical level. Among us people. I personally was insulted verbally so many times. I thought I heard some stories like this or that I’m shouting stronger. Then I started hearing stories about it. Whatever it takes. ”

Brighton Beach Pride in May 2017. Photo by Nikita Burukhin

It was not supported by everyone. It is extremely skeptical about it.

“I’m surprised, I’m surprised, but I’m surprised, I’m surprised. than any other homophobia. They were shouting, giving them a shouting, like, of course, you will fight homo sovieticus with feathers and sequins! These people are not self-assured and prevent others from normal living. It's a tragicomic but realistic picture. It didn't break but inspired me. Solidarity is what the Russian-speaking LGBT community lacks, ” Alexey says.

The Pride. They would not help. “What do you want to change?” They kept asking. If you want to find out what to do. There was no need for their job ... “It is mischievous“ homophobia is mischievous. ”

Brighton Beach Pride in May 2017. Photo by Nikita Burukhin

Kirill says he didn’t want to be skepticism. “I’m thinking of all of it. He understood that he understood what he had to say. We also have the rights; we’ll be scared to speak up? Is it why I came over here? That's it be Afraid again? No! " This is what it thought. So I marched in the front rows of the Pride. It was wonderful: very emotional, proud, loud, inspiring and exciting. Some reacted as we expected, with others, were surprisingly friendly and supportive. Nevertheless, we didn’t, we fulfilled our mission and didn't get scared. We are the first ever Pride in Brighton and are very proud of it! ”

However, it’s not true that they can be more aggressively. In addition, the Pride was guarded by the New York police.

“Next year it will be more serious,” Gorshkov says. “But we will be ready and will not give up.”

The Brighton Beach Pride: Attendees showed up despite the bad weather, no one was hurt! It was still came. I was caught in the head. kokoshnik: they decided to add some fun to the pride. One of them anonymously told in an interview later that day.

Stepan also attended the Brighton Beach Pride. Although it is wearing “civil” clothes, he still marched with great joy.

“I understand where I am. If I can change anything, I’m thinking of Brighton Beach.

“I’m not interested in listening to the Russian-speaking audience,” Kirill says. “Try to understand us first ... Homophobia is present everywhere! It is a small group of people. place on the planet. ”

Brighton Beach Pride in May 2017. Photo by Nikita Burukhin

A different look at Brighton

If you’re on the street, eat pirozhki (pasties) and buy some traditional food like pelmeni (meat dumplings), buckwheat, and caviar. Alexander of the popular group Rainbow America. He says he is living on the beach for him.

It’s not always a lot of funk? ” he says. “I believe in New York, especially thanks to the beautiful boardwalk and beach. Not the single enclave boasts the same great location. In Brighton, I can speak Russian and brag in a store; When a saleswoman scolds you, it's like 'the music of the homeland.' My soul rests when I'm there. ”

Photo from personal archive

Is it not time to change? Alexander believes it's not. Brighton is changing anyway. Alexander says he opposes radical and forced changes from outside.

“Old population of the 'Little Odesa' is getting old dying out,” Yankin says. “Their children are leaving for Big America. They are mostly taken from Asia, with their own traditions, traditions, cuisines, and cultures. 'Little Odesa' is slowly and surely turning into 'Big Samarkand.' The splendor and the grandeur of the 80s and the 90s have become the thing of the past. ”

Unlike many others from the LGBT community, Alexander doesn’t feel like homophobia as such in Brighton.

“It’s hard for the people of all people.” If it doesn’t bother you However, I have heard about such fights from my acquaintances. Anyway, homophobia is inherent for newcomer immigrants. ”

Alexander's dream gay bar in Brighton. However, he doubts very much.

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