Spread the words! “Speak out, act up”

“Russian’s brutal treatment of sexual minorities is nothing new. For me, growing up gay in Russia felt like I had a terminal disease.” – Wes Hurley

I recently found a website called “Out“, an online magazine news website, and ran into an article found under the category of News and Opinion, “Stranger in my Homeland: Growing Up Gay in Russia“. The article is an autobiographical post by Wes Hurley, a gay man born in Russia, who not only talks about his hardships growing up in a land where he felt like a “stranger”, discriminated and excluded, but reveals the Russian oppression on human rights.

Upon the rise of communism, public funds were robbed by municipal and regional administrations, public properties were stolen, there were increases of water shortages and electrical breakouts, thus leading the state into a crisis. Considering the increased tension and violence, along with the long-existing anti-gay laws, Hurley felt fearful for what would happen to him if his sexuality becomes leaked out to the public. There were already lots of bullying and violence in his school, and he even lost a couple of his “brothers” since they started to socialize with the girls.

Hurley goes on reminding us that the West, specifically Americans, take valued things for granted, such as freedom, equality, and justice, when in Russia, “there has never been such a thing as equality of human rights”. He cries out, “please, don’t compare the United States’ problems to what’s happening around the world. You have not the faintest idea. You are lucky, lucky, lucky to live here.” Hurley speaks directly to Western societies that their problems cannot compare to what’s happening, not only in Russia, but around the world, and begs us to remember that. He makes a clear message that such important issues surrounding human rights should not be neglected, that we are all part of a global force to fight for the rights (what the West have and majority countries do not) to be achieved all around the world.

“Don’t stop talking about gays in Russia. Don’t stop thinking about gays in Russia. Talk to your friends, write about it, tweet about it, Facebook-post about it. If you have Russian friends, bring it up to them. Absolutely call your senators and the State Department and tell them you are concerned about the situation in Russia and something needs to be done. ”                                                             – Wes Hurley

This is happening! Even though anti-gay laws have been around so long, there has been increasing support and public awareness about this oppression against equality and freedom in Russia. People are talking in a million ways. Hurley’s article post is a great example of this demonstration. He has even been invited to share his article to be posted on Seattle Gay News, a Western paper!

“Gay rights activists beaten by anti-gay protesters during an authorized gay rights rally in St.Petersburg, Russia” June 29th, 2013

Also, many Western celebrities have taken stand for gay rights, such as Lady Gaga, Madonna, and Kristen Bell use their power of popularity to spread this issue. Twitter has exploded, celebrities are taking a stand, gay parades are taken part around the world –even in Russia, where gay rights activists bravely participate even though they are beaten by anti-gay protesters.

The media is the dominate tool in starting these human rights campaigns, and we, especially the West who have freer voices and capabilities, are its users. Step by step, we can raise awareness and significantly, globally stretch the achievement of human rights. This article has opened my eyes, that even though the West has greatly achieved human rights of equality and justice, we should not be content with only that, but assure that all parts of the world get to experience this freedom as well. This is our responsibility as global citizens.

Western celebrities publicly participate and support gay rights for Russia.

“russia gay” twitter results