In 2006 and 2007, Moscow's Gay Pride Parades were violently suppressed. The treatment of sexual minorities became a litmus test for democracy in Russia. In 2007, President Vladimir Putin mentioned the LGBT community for the first time, expressing concern about the country's demographic future. His views were echoed by right-wing counter-demonstrators. The film portrays both Pride event organizers and the survival strategies of Russian lesbians and gays, who didn't see street-level democracy fighting as a viable option.
East/West: Sex & Politics
Clashes broke out in Moscow's 2006 and 2007 Gay Pride Parades, sparking worries about Russia's treatment of sexual minorities and the country's democratic state.
