Russian TV Presenter Comes Out on Air, Gets Fired

[William769]

Russian television anchor Anton Kraskovsky has been fired from his job after coming out on the air.

"I'm gay, and I'm just the same person as you, my dear audience, as President Putin, as Prime Minister Medvedev and the deputies of our Duma," he said, according to an interview with Snob.ru. He was reportedly fired from KontrTV, a government-backed cable network that he helped launch, and the footage of his announcement was quickly deleted from KontrTV's website and YouTube.

Kraskovsky also spoke to CNN from Lisbon and said he knew he would lose his job for coming out.

"Somebody should do it," he said. "I decided it's time to be open for me. That's it."

He told Snob.ru that he felt like a hypocrite after covering the so-called gay propaganda law on a show.

http://www.advocate.com/politics/media/2013/08/14/russian-tv-presenter-comes-out-air-gets-fired

[dbackjon]

1. Aslyum!

[William769]

2. Oh Canada!

http://www.advocate.com/politics/2013/08/13/canada-will-favor-refugee-claims-lgbt-russians

[theHandpuppet]

5. Great news!

[Amimnoch]

7. Really, I've lived in St. John's, Newfoundland for a bit over a year now.

Canada is quite an amazing place to live, and work. My husband and I are considering rolling my work visa into a permanent resident visa.

Something we've noted in Canada, even when compared to other progressive places, the environment here is exceptional. For example even in places like San Francisco, Brazil, London, or Amsterdam, when I've introduced my husband as my husband, even to people who are supporters, there's the raised eyebrow, and the supportive comments like "oh wow, that's great!" or "really? I'd have never guessed". Now, this is really great to have support, but the point is.. it's something that's noteworthy, exceptional, or surprising.

However, since here in St. John's, not ONE SINGLE TIME, have I introduced my husband to co-workers, landlord, or to people in general, has any reaction at all been observed. It's really no different at all as if I'd just introduced a wife where the reaction's concerned. Just a polite general introduction with nothing at all special about it. No raised eyebrow, no surprised gasp. just a handshake, and a nice to meet you, how about that weather we're having? We walk the waterfront holding hands.. no stares, no occasional silent look of derision, not even the occasional look of approval.

To me that is TRUE progressive culture. Not only is there a complete lack of homophobia, but even with the support, it's progressed past even being a big deal that "needs" extra acknowledgement.

[joeybee12]

3. Good for him...knr

[stevenleser]

4. Every non-homophobic person in Russian media needs to do this. Quit, or make it so they have to fire

you like this person did.

[Marrah_G]

6. wow

That's some courage.

This paragraph was so horrifying:

Additionally, a well-known group of Russian neo-Nazis has been luring gay teens in the country with personal ads on gay dating websites, then beating them, humiliating them, and forcing them to come out on video.

[Cha]

8. Oh dear! What a brave brave soul!

Mahalo William~