i’ve been trying to write a constructive post for over a month now
but there is so much on my mind and in my heart that don’t know where to start
i will start by saying that nothing justifies the taking of human lives
nothing
there is no place for ego when innocent people are dying
if you think this doesn’t concern you please think again
and for a second think what would it mean if we will only ever notice things that concern us directly
we would perish
we would drown
the essence of humanity is empathy
please stop your routine today to educate yourself on what’s going on
speak up about it
speak to your local government
don’t just carry on
there is no place for ego when innocent people are dying
this is the largest military invasion since WW2
you can make donations to help ukraine to verified resources listed in my bio
if you would like to know more ways to get involved please check my story highlights and feel free to dm me
there is no place for ego when innocent people are dying
🫂
arrest me russia!
i wrote this caption and kept trying to think why does this phrase sound so familiar
i realised that in 2012 when 16 yo me was at Lady Gaga’s concert in Moscow (having waited around 8 hours outside in -30) that was something she said in response to the government’s first attempt to promote this anti-LGBTQ law..
life came full circle i guess.
sooooo beyond excited to finally share these these from one of the most wholesome experiences of my life! synchronised swimming rules 😭💘💘💘
thank you @leather_locklear@liuherself for this adventure
On November 30, the Russian Supreme Court banned the “international LGBT movement.” That decision surpasses even 19th-century Russian legislation in terms of cruelty against queer people
During an interview I was recently asked - where is home? In all interviews I’ve done after the start of the war, foreign journalists always want to know whether I still consider Russia my home. I don’t know if you can consider home a country that is trying with all its might to ensure your destruction. But then I realized - home is in the arms of my girlfriend. This is the only place that feels truly calm and safe to me at the moment.
All participants of this project left Russia so they don’t have to chose between love and safety. When talking about the project, I immediately wrote “you don’t have to show your face, we understand that this can be dangerous for you.” In response I received “The face is not a problem, it’s such an important part of coming out for us.” “We are ready to take pictures without hiding our faces, because we believe that openness is necessary for a project of this kind and the support of people.”
I also received an email that said: “Hello, I want support.”
Of course, I understand that no art project will affect the law, at least in Russia. But I also understand that art is culture, and culture is what remains after us, culture, not laws. These photographs are here so that every queer person can know with certainty that they are not alone. There are many of us, we exist, here we are. An embrace for me is the ultimate symbol of support. I really hope that you feel it at least a little.
thank you @meduzapro@balabankatya for inviting me to create this project, and the beautiful couples who volunteered to participate and everyone who helped make it happen 🤍🤍
On November 30th, the Russian Supreme Court banned the “international LGBT movement.” That decision surpasses even 19th-century Russian legislation in terms of cruelty against queer people.
This of course makes all the work we've been doing in the last years dedicated to building a safe queer community, the work that fueled my existence during my last years living at home, feel absolutely useless. I don't really allow myself to dig into my memories of Russia, but I often think about those who are still there. For example, about the queer children who will grow up choosing between love and safety… I can't help but feel like I let you down. Right now I feel defeated. All I can offer right now, from this ocean of a distance, is this gesture - an embrace, a hug, the ultimate symbol of support. I really hope you feel even a little bit of it.
We will figure this out. We always do.
Huge thank you goes to @meduzapro and @balabankatya for inviting me to create this project, and the beautiful couples who volunteered to participate. They all left Russia due to its inhumanity and oppression, now living in exile, in a search for a safer and better life.
Director of Photography @a.zaritskiy
Light @art_mathews
Edit @_carolbot
Color Grade @abdullahghazalcolor
Makeup and Hair @taylertreadwell
Production Coordinator @katevarzar
Production Assistant @mayashkolnik
Special thanks goes to @saintlukeartists@milkdgtl@nycfilmlocations
🤍🤍
