Закрытые: Жизнь гомосексуалов в Советском Союзе

by Rustam Alexander, Рустам Александер, Oльга Быкова (Translator)

Лейтенант КГБ, сдававший спецслужбе своих любовников. Врач-энтузиаст, упорно пытавшийся «вылечить» гомосексуальность. Шотландский коммунист, выступивший в защиту гомосексуалов перед Сталиным. Советский «нулевой пациент», который заразился ВИЧ в Танзании. Истории всех этих людей, живших в СССР, долгое время оставались в тени — историк Рустам Александер проливает свет на то, что другие исследователи обходили стороной.

Книга «Закрытые» рассказывает о Советском Союзе через жизни людей, которых в социалистическом государстве официально не было: гомосексуалов, вынужденных из-за статьи за «мужеложство» подавлять себя или жить подпольно, рискуя оказаться в тюрьме по доносу. От простых рабочих до звезд эстрады — все они оказались заперты во враждебной среде, но и в таких невыносимых условиях искали пути к выживанию и счастью.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Queer, LGBT, Russia, Politics, Sexuality

336 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2023

About the author

Rustam Alexander is a historian and independent scholar who obtained his PhD from the University of Melbourne.

Reviews

[Лайма · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Мы растём, сколько бы нас ни притесняли бесовские силы. <...>
И что мы им мешаем? А мешаем потому, что нонконформисты, не такие, как весь этот зло*бучий пролетариат, у которого от пьянства уже ноги в ж*пу провалились! Мы неблагонадёжные, нами управлять трудно".

Казалось бы, зачем читать заведомо эмоционально тяжёлую книгу на неделе, когда был принят регрессивный закон, затыкающий рты нам всем (не только квир-людям)? Однако, несмотря на то что в "Закрытых" ничего позитивного, разумеется, не происходит, желание удавиться несколько спало и даже появилось какое-то утешение от того, что такие же гомосексуальные люди, как ты, жили при таком страшном режиме — да, скрываясь, да, зачастую страдая от внешней и внутренней гомофобии, но всё-таки продолжая жить, заниматься любимым делом, искать близких людей.

Перед прочтением у меня почему-то сложилось впечатление, что это будет обычный нонфикшн, очень сосредоточенный на фактах. И факты, здесь, конечно же, приводятся в достатке, однако, оказалось, что это скорее сборник мини-биографий, переплетённых с более общей историей гей-сообщества в СССР, чем монография. Если честно, такой формат, на мой взгляд, подходит книге даже больше, потому что в России до сих пор на квир-людях остаётся стигма как раз потому, что большинство не знакомо с ними лично, и видит в нас не живых людей, а просто какое-то абстрактное, далёкое сообщество, которое, к тому же, создал "загнивающий Запад". Книга Александера разбивает эту стигму буквально за пару глав во многом благодаря прямым цитатам героев, их дневниковым записям или письмам в газеты, но также с помощью реконструкций автора на основе источников. С одной стороны, это очень смелый шаг, но с другой, так текст получается более цельным, и нет такого разрыва между словами автора и приводимыми цитатами.

Больше всего меня поразила глава 11 — "в которой лейтенант КГБ пускается во все тяжкие". В одном интервью автор говорил, что хотел бы продать права на экранизацию книги в виде документального сериала Нетфликсу, и если это всё же произойдёт, данная глава наверняка выйдет самой захватывающей. Я буквально одной рукой держала книгу, а второй — свою отваливающуюся челюсть, настолько это было невероятно увлекательно описано и настолько сильно я переживала за героев истории.

Ещё хотелось бы отдельно сказать про комментарий автора по поводу присутствия в книге гомосексуальных женщин. Да, разумеется, большая часть текста посвящена мужчинам, однако по предисловию я ожидала, что женщин в нём не будет почти совсем, а по сути о них написано две целых главы, и ещё одна говорит об инициативе криминализации женской гомосексуальности. Так что, хотя желание автора скорректировать ожидания читателей вполне понятно, мне кажется, что книга всё равно вышла очень равномерной, и у меня не было ощущения, что автор игнорирует квир-женщин.

В целом я очень рада, что "Закрытые" вышли именно сейчас, потому что не знаю, как иначе смогла бы пережить эту неделю. Главная ценность книги (помимо очень доступного языка, за что автору низкий поклон, потому что работы Дэна Хили — это, конечно, замечательно, но продраться сквозь них я не смогла) заключается в том, что Александер показывает нам: необязательно быть Чайковским, Эйзенштейном или Нуреевым, чтобы потомки о тебе помнили, интересовались тем, как тебе жилось, и затем оставляли свои находки на страницах нашей общей (квир- и не только) истории.

[Iv · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the first time in my life, I want to write a letter to the author to personally thank him for this. As a Romanian lesbian, this wasn't exactly written /for/ me, but it's close enough that I cried multiple times. It's so important to see the history of homophobia in a country to understand the current day.

[liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

прекрасная книга!!
доступна, информативная и сжатая, она придает гласность представителям лгбтк+ в ссср, их гонениям и образу жизни, который приходилось скрывать. однако, помимо этого, в книге описано и отношение общества к ‘нестандартным’ отношениям с точки зрения юриспруденции, медицины и просто common sense.

как в конце пишет сам автор, нам НУЖНО писать про такие истории в ссср, «чтобы вынести эти истории за пределы академического круга» и дать людям знать, что лгбтк+ было, есть и будет, такие люди - тоже люди.

[Tristram · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm very disappointed by this. The reviews of Red Closet are high, with little if any criticism. If I had to guess why this would be I would say it is because people would like to see an underrepresented struggle discussed, even if it is at the sacrifice of poor research. I think there is a sense of tragedy to that. I'm afraid I just can't commend this book.

It consistently baffles me how somebody can get to and surpass PhD education and be unable to competently research and produce a work with academic capability. Alexander states that this book is intended for a general audience and thus unburdened from specialist terms etc. (I have no ideas what sort of 'specialist terms' could relate to the content of this book that a general reader would not be able to understand), but this does not explain why the historical literacy is so terribly poor. I was cringing inside out within the first paragraph.

To begin with, homosexuality under Lenin is practically completely skipped - this could be put down to the fact that this is supposed to be about the USSR which was not entirely properly formed during Lenin's time, but then that is a contradiction as the book only talks about Soviet Russia and NOT the USSR.

You can tell the main focus is regarding the Stalinist era, but the sources used are just so poor (Robert Service's Stalin biography, works by Simon Sebag Montefiore, etc. - historians with no real respect amongst serious researchers). Alexander clearly has a wholly inadequate understanding of this period and regarding the Great Terror.

He uses fictionalised stories to contextualise real court cases, which I just can't really grasp. There are ways of explaining these cases in a human and comprehensible way without resorting to fabrications of reality. You don't have to mislead your audience to help them to realise that gay people had human lives (this is sounding completely insane to type out, but it kind of is silly when you realise that the author is deciding to basically produce fanfiction about real people and their misfortunes to convey that they had lives beyond their convictions).

There are some very confusing and exaggerated comparisons. The biggest of which being Alexander inexplicitly insinuating that being against male-male rape in prisons and labour camps is homophobic, and writing in the same sympathetic manner to discuss an old man who targeted teenage boys. This just kind of confuses me, because this is supposed to be a book emphasising the difficulties and oppression of gay people within a certain climate but Alexander doesn't really seem to have the understanding of LGBTQ attitudes and issues that most authors on this subject have. I just can't figure out what this author's academic speciality was, because he lacks insight both in Soviet and LGBTQ attitudes.

The second most notable of the statements was that Putin invaded Ukraine (it is a very recent book!) on the grounds of homophobia? I quote:

"The following Russian politics know that by 'traditional values' Putin means Russian patriotism, spirituality, respect for his leadership and compliance with heteronormative and patriarchal ideas of family and gender. Over the last decade Putin has been working hard to promulgate these 'traditional values' in Russian society and make them an essential part of Russian people's identity. He has been doing so, in part, by infusing Russians with homophobia and intolerance of various kinds. And now, once again, to justify his military invasion of Ukraine, Putin evokes homophobic discourse and tries to convince Russians that LGBTQ people are threatening the country."

I can see where he is coming from, but I feel there is a massive overemphasis on homophobia as part of the reasoning of the invasion of Ukraine. The concept of traditional values is complexly interlinked with so many social ideas that I don't think it is reasonable for Alexander to isolate homophobia specifically with the lack of interpretive skills that he has. I think this is certainly an interesting suggestion, but one that would have to be researched and analysed by a very skilled social historian - and Alexander writes this book at almost a high school essay level. I have no idea if his actual academic works are any more well-rounded and respectable. I have not read any of them, so it is possible that all my criticism could just be solely for his self-proclaimed accessible style.

I do think that there is good to be taken away from Red Closet. He at least tries to look at people's lives from Stalin to Gorbachev (although he doesn't really make any sort of personal analysis on the relation between each era), and he provides us with newly translated sources about various gay people's personal experiences. I also think the discussions on the medical side of the argument were interesting, and how doctors and professionals perceived homosexuality and the methods with which they attempted to cure it as a disease.

All in all, if you would like to read some experiences of what it was like to be gay in Soviet Russia and you already have a good solid basis of understanding around the social environment and the country's history, I might say give it a try purely for the personal anecdotes. Just don't get excited or have high expectations - poor surrounding research, poor writing, no personal analysis or interesting links made by Alexander. A clunky and dissatisfying piece.

[Liza · Rating 3 out of 5]

есть классные истории и хорошее овервью политики по гомосексуалам, но есть повторы (оч много про пытавшихся лечиться) и много опоры на другие исследования. но как же круто, что такая книга есть

[Lilit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Это очень важная книга для 2023 года, когда она была издана, и, к сожалению, ещё более важная для января 2024, когда я пишу этот отзыв.

Закрытые — это хронологический сборник историй, свидетельств, выдержек из статей и исследований о гомосексуальности в СССР, которое читается легко и быстро, как антология рассказов или роман. Все герои, как сообщает автор в предисловии, реальны, все диалоги основаны на их письмах, дневниках и интервью. При этом все события, которые описываются Александером, кажутся полным абсурдом и бредом, им совсем не хочется верить. Ровно до того момента, конечно, пока не вспоминаешь, что читал сегодня в новостях.

Поразило то, что самыми сочувствующими и понимающими по отношению к гомосексуалам среди советского народа оказались врачи-психиатры, которые пытались их вылечить. Конечно, все мы прекрасно понимаем, что «лечение» не дает никакого результата, но от законоведов врачей отличает хотя бы то, что для врачей их пациенты — люди. Советской властью они воспринимались разве что как грязь под ногтями.

Есть, конечно, здесь моменты, к которым сложно не придраться. Иногда выбивал из колеи плавающий стиль повествования — от строгого и почти официозного до расслабленного разговорного. Книга сквозит осуждением к гомофобам и советской власти, и я понимаю, что в такой острой и несправедливой теме сложно держать нейтральный тон — но при этом Александеру это удается, когда отвратительные поступки совершают люди по другую сторону баррикад. Например, в совершенно нейтральном тоне преподносится история о сельском священнике, который домогался подростков.

Но не хочется заострять на минусах внимание, конечно. Автор проделал огромную и опасную работу, восстановив очень живую и яркую картину сопротивления гомосексуалов и советского государства. Я не думаю, что эта книга способна кардинально поменять чьи-то взгляды — как я уже написала, к гомофобам автор изначально настроен враждебно, в чем я его очень понимаю. Но я думаю, что это книга, которую стоит прочитать каждому, кто входит в ЛГБТК+ или активно их поддерживает. В России в 2024 году важно знать прошлое, чтобы понимать, что нас может ждать в самом ближайшем будущем. Боюсь, у книги неизбежно появится сиквел. Вместе с тем истории, которые рассказываются в «Закрытых», дают хоть какую-то слабую надежду. Как поет одна из самых лучших иноагенток: и я переживу.


p.s. если вы хотите узнать о том, как в то же самое время отстаивали права ЛГБТ в США — очень советую новый сериал Fellow Travelers и роман, по которому он был написан.

[Melaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

It broke my heart.
I understand why the author chose such tone for this book. All of these personal stories based mostly on criminal cases still resonate today.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

8.5/10

i found this book to be well thought through and much more accessible than all the other scholarship on LGBTQ+ russia that i've read thus far - highly recommend to anyone with an interest in russian culture

having the chapters run chronologically through the tenures of each leader clearly helps to gauge how attitudes towards homosexuality fluctuated. i do wish that more could be said about how these changes relate specifically to each leader.

the latter half of the book is definitely more oriented to medical treatment of homosexuality which is critical but can be a little repetitive. i was glad to find multiple chapters on how the AIDS crisis impacted the country, of which i've previously found little information elsewhere.

undoubtedly the testimonies of specific individuals were my favourite parts, absolutely tore through those

[Alexandra Bazhenova-Sorokina]

Наконец, дочитала до конца. Очень много полезной информации, но смутил фокус исключительно на сексуальной и криминальной жизни советских гомосексуалов, а хотелось больше узнать об отношениях, больше голосов самих квиров, а не врачей и следователей. Отчасти это вопрос к источникам, отчасти, все же, и к способу рассказывания.

[David Kharebov · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a 10/10 for a casual reader interested in this topic

[Romuald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up in Soviet Union, albeit in the last decade of it’s existance, I was probably too young to fully comprehend the vicissitudes of various social issues, be it the debates on and perception of homosexuality, or particulars of the transition from stricter dogmas of Soviet communism and socialist moral code to perestroika as means of gradual democratization and libelarization of Soviet regime and society in general. Despite that, some tendencies, like wide-spread homophobia, could definitely be “felt in the air”, even though more often it would probably be simply disguised as some taboo: “don’t touch, and you won’t get burned”. Alexander’s book, written mostly in a form of personal stories of Russian gay men, jurists who worked for or against of abolition of so called sodomy laws, and even physicians who attempted to “treat” homosexualism, sheds a light on history of gay opression in the USSR, and helps to understand the reasons behind de facto institutionalized homophobia in Russia. Rustam Alexander is a scholar and an author of several academic works, most notably “Regulating homosexuality in Soviet Russia, 1956-91”.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Книгу очень тяжело читать, но написала она замечательно. Чем дальше, тем обиднее за всё, потому что по сути любые намеки на хоть какие-то позитивные изменения пресекались государством сразу же. Больно читать, зная, что сегодняшня ситуация приближается по сути к советскому законодательству, а принимающие ее люди вероятно ещё помнят то время. Книга разбивает сердце, но она стоит того.

[Rhi Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

My knowledge of the treatment of queer people in the USSR was limited to "bad before, better than anywhere else under Lenin, some of the worst in the world under Stalin, no idea, then really bad again under Putin". Alexander does a good job filling in that "no idea space" with stories and cases from Soviet criminal, medical, and journalistic records.

Alexander made a point at the start that he was dumbing this book down from his research to reach a wider audience, but I was a little taken aback how light it would be. I would have liked a bit more detail on some of the legal and ideological parts, but maybe that just means I should read his other books.

[Lucille · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible book. I really liked how the author divided the book into sections on each Soviet leader. The additional historical context on what life was like in each era was really interesting and painted a picture of a world where LGBT people continue to be oppressed.

Although Yeltsin made positive reforms to LGBT rights, this book highlights how dangerous life is as an LGBT person in 2024 Putin’s Russia. I think this book is important groundwork and research for any liberalisation of equality laws that we will hopefully see in a post-Putin Russia.

[Nikon Kovalev · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read. A whole chapter is devoted to my favorite singer Vadim Kozin. Sadly, the author pictures him a bit too sugary, hardly addressing his anti-semitism and blind belief in Soviet propaganda. He literally sometimes in his diaries just re-tells what he listened on the radio about international relations.

[Jemma Trelour · Rating 3 out of 5]

In reading Red Closet, I found myself oscillating between admiration and frustration. If you’re reading reviews of this book, you’ve probably come across opinions similar to mine, so much of what I share may not be groundbreaking. Yet, I feel compelled to offer my perspective because, in short, I do believe it’s a book worth reading.

One of the main critiques I have is the writing itself, which at times feels overly simplistic and diminishes the weight of the complex subject matter. While I share the sentiments of other reviewers who suggest the approach could benefit from more nuance, I also recognise Alexander’s ambition to make such a challenging subject accessible to a broader audience. He has undeniably succeeded in this goal, but I can’t help wondering if the audience that might benefit most from this approach will actually engage with the book. Given the target audience is somewhat niche, and in prioritising accessibility, said simplicity sacrifices some of the depth that could have filled more gaps than it has left.

One area where this oversimplification is particularly evident is in discussion around the Soviet Union’s stance on LGBTQ+ rights. The lack of broader context surrounding the USSR’s approach to LGBTQ+ issues particularly regarding the penal codes on sodomy leaves room for misinterpretation. While the book understandably focuses on Russia, especially under Stalin and Gorbachev, it misses an opportunity to explore the diverse republics within the USSR, such as the Baltic's or Central Asia. Where each of state has unique cultural and religious contexts that could have added valuable depth to the narrative. For instance, in Georgia, where Orthodox Christianity played a significant role, religion had major implications for influencing social attitudes and policies, including the persecution of LGBTQ+ individuals. Incorporating these regional nuances, as well as the intersection of state power and tradition, could have enriched the analysis and provided a more comprehensive view of the USSR's approach to LGBTQ+ rights.

Despite these critiques, I was genuinely moved by the personal testimonies included in Red Closet. These accounts shed light on the hidden, oppressed struggles faced by real people that remain painfully relevant today. The book also incorporates a medical perspective that adds richness to the narrative, offering discussion into how Soviet systems attempted to silence homosexual identities - a perspective that encourages reflection on how these issues have evolved since the USSR’s dissolution, provoking consideration of the ongoing challenges LGBTQ+ communities face in the post-Soviet world. In fact, I would be especially interested in seeing an updated edition of Red Closet, one that tracks the continued journey of LGBTQ+ rights in the evolving global context.

Ultimately, I still believe Red Closet is a valuable read and would highly recommend it. The emotional depth it conveys is rare in books from the politics shelf, where dry facts often overshadow personal stories. It stands out for its ability to engage without requiring prior or post-reading, largely due to the storytelling element - even if the factual accuracy of some accounts may be elusive. Overall the conversation the book sparks is important, and I hope there is more to come and stories to be told.

[Pavel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not a fan of the whole concept of rating, so I usually give 5 stars to almost every book I read unless the book is utterly terrible, in which case I give a one. The reason I mention it here is because after the first couple of chapters this book was about to receive a one.

This is not an academic work, and that becomes clear from the very first sentence. Many statements are obviously historically inaccurate and represent author’s personal biased opinion. To name a few:

1. He claims that psychoanalysis was legalised in Russian Empire around 1903, but “After the Revolution, things changed: it was outlawed in 1929”. Well, 1929 is not exactly “After the Revolution”. In fact, psychoanalysis was promoted in Soviet Russia by Trotsky and Lenin’s wife Krupskaya, and it was only after Stalin came to power that things changed.
2. When he says that bolsheviks legalised homosexuality, he makes sure to mention that it was because they were “cancelling imperial laws” implying that it happened by mistake. Bloody as they were, first years after the revolution were actually marked by many progressive changes in people’s personal lives: abortions, divorces and homosexuality were legalised, and not by mistake.
3. The most blatant claim is that Bolsheviks are to blame not only for the October revolution, but also for the February one. There were many democratic powers in Russian Empire at that time. The February revolution was social-democratic, and Bolsheviks put a lot of effort into making sure that democratic elections would not happen. October revolution was a revolution against the results of the February one and against scheduled democratic elections. Blaming bolsheviks for both revolutions is the level of historical analysis that is acceptable in the 1997 cartoon Anastasia, but not in a historical study.

Long story short, Alexander reproduces simplified black-and-white misconceptions about Russian history that are common in conservative-liberal Russian circles, while it is historian’s work to dismantle such misconceptions.

Now to the good part. By making such obvious mistakers as listed above, the author makes it clear that this is a work of historical fiction, and we cannot trust every detail of every story. Once we accept that historiographical accuracy was not among the goals of the book, it suddenly becomes very good. The stories are based on a comprehensive research and written in an accessible and emotional way. The book makes a very important work of making the stories of homosexuals in USSR visible and heard and, most importantly, relatable. It speaks of topics that are again being silenced in contemporary Russia. Who knows how many stories from the book will happen again with the new repressive laws.


The book has good and clear structure, and every part sheds light on different aspects of homophobia in USSR. It is easy to read, and I definitely recommend picking it up, but with caution.

[Dana Blythe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Soviet Union's relationship with sex and the human body is comical. Parents told children that babies come from cabbage (now you know how that American franchise originated). And the swollen bellies of pregnant women are due to drinking too much water. These quirks and superstitions are part of the reason why I love Russian culture. It's amusing, silly, and fun.

But there is a darker side, past the inside joke: "There is no sex in the USSR." Legally, Homosexuality varied under the Soviet dictatorship. Lennin didn't care, Stalin did, with horrible results. For a comprehensive understanding of Queer history in Russia, check out "Out of the Blue: Russia's Hidden Gay Litterture," published late 90's when Queer culture was coming out in Moscow and St Peterburg.

Currently, under Putin, Russians are going back to Stalinist attitudes on homosexuality, and often pretending homosexuality never existed. Of course it did and does. Today authorities arrest and harrass Queer teens, such as Avgust Dobrovolsky, for participating on community group chats. Authorities attempted to get hold of Dobrovolsky's contacts, who are deemed other pedophiles. Dobrovolsky was able to escape thanks to the work of Queer activist. Russia's present is chilling. So we Americans must understand Russia's past. Why?

Our current president is so buddy-buddy with Putin that it's essential to understand Russia's approach to politics.
Russia's past is becoming its present, and Russia's present is America's future.

Rustam Alexander's book is a quick read and helpful for any American unfamiliar with Russian history or culture. Highly suggest for any American concerned about human rights on a global scale or evolving events happening here.

[Mark Allinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting read which brings the history of gay lives and gay repression in the Soviet Union to life. The focus on individual cases reconstructed from court papers and psychiatric case notes adds real depth. In the earlier sections some more analysis and contextualisation would perhaps have been helpful, but the author has provided a service in producing a book free of too much academic baggage. The later sections are stronger on the context. Very interesting that the debates among psychiatrists and with (against) the party persisted over decades about potential decriminalisation, and that the solution was felt through much of the twentieth century to lie in reeducation or conversion of gay men - perhaps understandable within the moral codes and scientific data available at the time. There was perhaps scope also to explore why the ideological position of the Soviet party was out of step with that in other socialist countries where decriminalisation happened much earlier. A very rewarding and important read overall.

[Naava · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trigger warnings for this review: homophobia. Obviously.

In the early days of the Soviet Union, homosexuality was legal. Depending on the source, it might be because free love was communism, ergo, a good thing, or (like in this book) because Lenin had just… not criminalized sodomy. Stalin didn’t think to criminalize sodomy until Genrikh Yagoda of the OGPU brought the matter to his attention. What I found interesting was how, in the ranks of OGPU et cetera, officials would “find” things like dick-shaped pipes and dildos in each others’ possession, thus getting rid of their superiors, thus allowing themselves to rise within the ranks.

And how did Soviet doctors attempt to cure homosexuality? A few methods:
- manifestation
- looking at pictures of women
- chlorpromazine

The oppression of othered groups of people was and is a sure-fire way to make sure the “better” group of people had and has a common enemy. Not just in the USSR, not just in modern-day Russia.

The book discusses sexual violence, torture, gulags, and homophobic murders.

[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read the book in Russian and I am very looking forward to reading it in English. What I don’t understand is some people’s negativity about the author’s accessible style - some people have said the book is poorly written and too simplistic. I don’t agree with that. I think this book is exactly what readers need - clear and engaging , focused on personal stories of Soviet gay and lesbian people, devoid of academic snobbery and cryptic language. If you want something more scholarly and dry - there are books like that on the market too. I personally prefer Alexander’s style and I really hope the author will continue his important work.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Red Closet is a history of gay oppression in the USSR, told in individual tales of men and women whose lives (in most cases) landed them in trouble with authorities and whose stories were then recorded--albeit with prejudice and lies. For a topic that was little thought about until recent years, the author does a nice job of using these tales to provide the atmosphere of loneliness and oppression that people faced then, and face in an even more organized manner today.

[A13 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Грустные истории людей с покалеченными судьбами проступают сквозь текст, который старается остаться в рамках простого описания событий, хронологической летописи государственной и общественной идеологии подавления гомосексуальных людей в СССР. Это горько и неудобно читать, это некомфортно и неприятно, и понимаешь, что так и будет продолжаться, что надежды на лучшее будущее нет.

[Varvara Veber · Rating 4 out of 5]

потрясающая книга, ужасно грустно и тяжело видеть как описанное в ней рифмуется с происходящем в современной россии
4/5, под конец истории лечения повторяются, но все равно очень интересно читать про подходы врачей

[Helena Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really paints a timeline of the USSR vs the world and how the Russian societal view of gay people has come to be. some of the chapters are similar and almost felt repetitive but the picture and conversation of the book was really worthwhile. very educational

[ks · Rating 3 out of 5]

не понравилось, как повествование заигрывает с читателем инсценировками разной степени пошлости, которые в совокупности сливаются в одну побасёнку и оставляют странное впечатление. я понимаю, что это для массовости, но ожидала побольше анализа

[Lance Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, very interesting, and told through personal stories.

[Chérif · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super informative and important read on the 100+ year oppression of the LGBTQI+ people in the USSR. Alexander turns his academic research and writings into a book aimed for the everyday reader.

[Ivo · Rating 3 out of 5]

The primary sources are very good but I found the author's style and input pretty tedious.

[Extinction (Quasar) · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most important books I ever read.
Needed it.