TV personality opens up about coming out in Russia
February 26, 2013
Last month, Russia put forth a bill that would fine institutions and individuals who spread "propaganda" that supported homosexuality to minors. That same day, a Russian media personality, Anton Krasovsky, was fired because he recently announced that he was gay, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Krasovsky was anchoring a late-night show on January 25, when he announced that he is gay and that he is "as human as President [Vladimir] Putin and Prime Minister [Dmitry] Medvedev" among other members of Parliament in Russia, the news source reports.
The former editor in chief of KontrTV has been outspoken about the events, and the growing violations of human rights that impact the country as a whole. However, he claims that him coming out was not politically-driven.
"It was in no measure a political or a social manifesto on my part. At some point I simply realized nice and clear that I was increasingly growing ashamed of myself," Krasovsky told the media outlet. "As a gay in a homophobic country I have grown used to lying my head off on a daily basis. Every morning I wake up with a thought of what lie I have to tell today. I am fed up with it. I am not going to lie anymore!"
He was encouraged to come out after Russia passed the recent law that does not allow Russian children to be adopted by American parents. That law, coupled with the initial homophobic bill being passed, led Krasovsky to share his secret.
According to The Courier Russia, just because Krasovsky was fired, it does not mean he plans on leaving Russia quite yet, he still has hope of change.
Those who want to talk about the recent events can make calls to Russia using international calling cards.