Gay Love in Russia: The Tragic Story of Jon and Alex (WATCH)

BBC has released a heartbreaking mini-documentary about the struggle for LGBTQ rights in Russia.

The short film tells the tragic love story of Jon and Alex, boyfriends and activists who became faces of the Russian LGBT movement after an intimate photo of them (above) captured the prestigious World Press Photo Award in 2015.

Alex died of heart failure at age 30 in 2019, and Jon explains that thanks to Russia’s gay propaganda law, things have changed.

“What happened then would be impossible now, to organize a march against hatred, to march with rainbow flags,” Jon says. “I realize that without him, everything that went on between 2013 and 2016 simply would not have been possible. Initially, for me, the photo was about deep love and passion. Now, it’s about mourning.”

Danish photographer Mads Nissen says he spent two years traveling to Russia to document anti-LGBT violence and oppression. But he knew that he needed more love in his work, and when he met Jon and Alex at a bar in St. Petersburg, he asked if he could accompany them to their apartment and photograph them.

Although they had some difficulty getting the photo out in Russia due to canceled exhibitions and other problems, it became a symbol for the movement.

“Like it or not, that image is an icon, and it’s an icon of the fight for LGBT rights, and that you can never take away from it,” Nissen says. “Finally being recognized as a strong, beautiful couple, and not as something bad as they often are perceived in Russia.”

Jon says he cried for hours when he first saw the photo, and Alex viewed it as an everlasting confirmation of their relationship.

But in the wake of the gay propaganda law, things got much worse. Jon was repeatedly attacked in the streets, and during a demonstration in 2016, he was arrested and fined.

Jon says when he met Alex, he had a quote on his social media profile from the film Rasberry Reich: “My boyfriend is the revolution.”

“He [Alex] really became that revolution,” Jon says. “He talked a lot about running out of time, and trying to do things quickly. I know that when he was very young, someone predicted that he would not live past 30.

“We combined our energy in such a way that it gave results, not just to each of us individually, but to the world as a whole.” 

Watch their story below.

The post Gay Love in Russia: The Tragic Story of Jon and Alex (WATCH) appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Gay Love in Russia: The Tragic Story of Jon and Alex (WATCH)

HRC Foundation’s 2020 Time to THRIVE Conference Begins

HRC Foundation’s 2020 Time to THRIVE Conference in support of LGBTQ youth kicked off this Friday in Washington, D.C., with an exciting opening reception filled with awards and entertainment.

The annual event is held in partnership with the American Counseling Association and the National Education Association, with AT&T, BBVA Compass and Toyota as presenting sponsors. In its seventh year, HRC Foundation’s premier national event addresses safety, inclusion and well-being for LGBTQ youth, and brings together youth-serving professionals to discuss best practices for working with and caring for LGBTQ youth and their families in schools, community centers, health care settings and beyond.

HRC Time to Thrive Plenary featuring luminaries like Don Lemon, HRC President Alphonso David and beloved activists Judy and Dennis Shepard. Already a huge weekend! #sherrsdc @HRC @ Renaissance Washington, DC… t.co/pQH1uiO0st

— Sherri Rase (@SherrRase) February 15, 2020

HRC presented Don Lemon, Sam Long and Jamie Clayton with Upstander Awards during the opening plenary of the conference, and trans advocate and singer and songwriter Shea Diamond closed out the night with a moving performance.

��✨Singer, song writer and trans advocate @iamsheadiamond closed out the first night of #TimeToTHRIVE with a fabulous performance.

We cannot wait for what the rest of the weekend has in store! pic.twitter.com/pzx734grRl

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 15, 2020

Don Lemon, Emmy-winning anchor for CNN Tonight with Don Lemon, came out publicly as gay in his 2011 memoir “Transparent,” and has been an outspoken voice for the LGBTQ community in the media and beyond for many years.

“Yes, I am a journalist. I’m also an American. I’m also gay. I’m also Black…I’ve also struggled like you.”@HRC is proud to present @donlemon with an Upstander Award at our #TimeToTHRIVE Conference ��️‍�� pic.twitter.com/cLWJwwJSG0

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 15, 2020

Sam Long, a transgender high school biology teacher from Colorado, is an advocate for LGBTQ-inclusive curricula in K-12 schools and an expert at developing gender-inclusive biology curricula.

“Trans people can be happy, healthy, normal, extraordinary and complex individuals. That is what young people learn when they see trans adults like me, day after day, in positive roles around them.” – #TimeToTHRIVE Upstander Award recipient Sam Long (@samlong713) pic.twitter.com/95eldYgz4q

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 15, 2020

Jamie Clayton is a transgender actress who currently stars on “The L Word: Generation Q” and is a fierce advocate for the LGBTQ community.

“I know the characters I play matter…Activism can come in many forms.” – @MsJamieClayton, #TimeToTHRIVE Upstander Award honoree ������ pic.twitter.com/7yxEMWG5R0

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 15, 2020

Other speakers included HRC President Alphonso David, HRC Youth Ambassadors Ashton Mota, Savannah Skyler, Molly Pinta, Armando Hernandez, Jr., Nakiya Lynch, Sam Moehlig and Zoey Luna, Chief Executive Officer of the American Counseling Association Rich Yep, Assistant Vice President of Public Affairs and Strategic Alliances at AT&T Scott Sapperstein, Secretary-Treasurer of the National Education Association Princess Moss, Chief Compliance Officer at BBVA Celie Niehaus and activists Judy and Dennis Shepard.

Reading the #TimetoThrive program this morning and getting excited for a weekend full of learning! Can’t wait to bring back new research & strategies for supporting LGBTQ youth to @NationalPTA pic.twitter.com/Ii7nSXSdGr

— Rebecca Bauer (@Rebecca_Bauer1) February 14, 2020

 

 

 

 

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‪”Think about someone in your life who gave you unconditional support. It’s our job to be that person for every student. It is our job to be that kind, caring, non- judgmental individual for our education colleagues.” @hrc @NEAToday #TimeToTHRIVE‬

A post shared by Princess Moss (@princess_moss) on Feb 14, 2020 at 5:05pm PST

Loved hearing from & celebrating @HRC #Upstander @donlemon at #TimeToTHRIVE: ‘Even if these challenging times, know this – we, will be okay..’ #LGBTQ #inclusion #equity #ThankYouDon #YForAll @GlobalYMCA here in force with 60+ people!! @_MoonlitMystery pic.twitter.com/ooONRNOuDR

— Chad Nico Hiu (@chadnico) February 15, 2020

“Lift others. Those of us with privilege must create space for those with less privileges.” #MollyPinta #pintapride Thank you, Molly! #TimeToTHRIVE #timetothrive2020

— Ms. Rutkowski (@NYAZORteacher) February 15, 2020

 

 

 

 

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Slay. #TIMEtoThrive

A post shared by Savannah Skyler (@thesavannahsky) on Feb 14, 2020 at 4:49pm PST

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-foundations-2020-time-to-thrive-conference-begins?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Michigan AG Trolls Rush Limbaugh With Pic of Her Kissing Her Wife

Dana Nessel clapped back at Limbaugh, who’d said Americans wouldn’t vote for Pete Buttigieg because he kisses his husband on the debate stage.

www.advocate.com/media/2020/2/14/michigan-ag-trolls-rush-limbaugh-pic-her-kissing-her-wife