[cal2]

Can anyone clue me in as to why (ex-)soviet regions have such an adamant opposition to anything other than heterosexuality?

I'm an odd case I guess since I'm an American who is both gay and deeply interested in "all things" Russian. (My boyfriend is even more so since he's currently studying in Rostov).

I had the opportunity to visit Tallinn and St. Petersburg (along with Helsinki and Stockholm) last year and the perceivable difference in atmospheres was quite significant between cities.

I suppose it's difficult to describe, but the western cities (like Tallinn) felt so much more easy-going and "happy" compared to St. Petersburg (even though every Russian I conversed with was deeply proud of their city).

I'm sure I subconsciously projected my own biases onto the cities before I visited them, but I also feel as if there's objective credibility to what I observed (i.e. that you can "get a solid feel/understanding" of the city just by being there).

I just don't know why eastern countries like Russia have always felt so hostile towards same-sex individuals.

Thoughts? Comments?

[mxfh]

It's not so much about ex-Soviet it's more about protestant culture vs. catholic/orthodox.

[duckingtest]

Russia is just oppressive in general, in all aspects. You might want to read "Letters from Russia" by Astolphe marquis de Custine for a historic perspective. That was Russia under tsars, it was much worse after revolution, until Stalin's death.

In the entire Russian history there never was a period when an average citizen could feel free. How could it feel 'happy' now?