In July, British and American media reported on a viral video in which two male Moscow-based celebrities, known for their social pranks, walked the streets of Russia’s capital attempting to pass as a fey gay couple. This took place shortly after the US Supreme Court’s ruling on same-sex marriage.
The pranksters walked the streets of Moscow, while holding hands and dressed in ripped skinny jeans and hipster beanies. The intent of the prank was to compare the state of gay rights in Russia to the United States. Mainstream western media did not elaborate on the fact that the two pranksters were straight and they portrayed themselves as a very docile gay couple. As the video shows, the ‘couple’ never challenge the verbal insults or shoves from passers-by, no one comes to their aid, they are never defended, nor do they defend themselves.
Instead, the pranksters send a plain and dispiriting message: gay people in Russia are lonely couples with no community who do not challenge homophobia.
