One of the more frustrating aspects of the debate about homosexuality in Putin’s neo-fascist Russia is what we can actually do about it. Protests are fine; international condemnation is important; helping gay groups in Russia matters. But at some point, this is not our country, and there are limits to intervention, if we are not going to engage in the simplistic idea that all societies across the globe must now have the same prevailing attotudes toward gayness that have only recently emerged in the West. In our latest podcast, I asked Masha Gessen what her ideas are for giving Russian gays some practical support and help. Her answer surprised me – but it shouldn’t have: granting Russian gays the group refugee status that we once accorded to Soviet Jews:
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The Dish 