In Buenos Aires, activists are organizing a Kiss-In demonstration in front of the Russian Embassy. Poster via Dan Nicoletta and Damaris Hidalgo. Hosted by Casa Brandon. July 10th, 7pm…
Category Archives: Russia
Dutch photo of Russian sailor: delicious GUP cover boy
Photo: Joost van den Broek. GUP: Guide to Unique Photography. 027 Double Anniversary issue.
Jewish Moscow: Chabad sanctuary, a queer man’s view from the women’s balcony
In Orthodox Judaism, the men are separated from the women during prayer. They sit behind a mechitza (partition) or, in this case, in a balcony…which may actually be the best seat in the house. This custom is, at least in part, because of the idea that the sight of a woman would arouse a man and take his mind away from prayers.
So where does that leave a frum faygeleh (religious gay man)? I’m not quite sure…many possibilities. I snuck up into the balcony during a non-service time, and snapped this shot of what would normally be the women’s view.
-AidanAbroad
Jewish Moscow: staircase at Chabad shul
Staircase, spiraling across the 4-floor complex that serves as a community center for ultra-orthodox Jews in Moscow. Lots of men with great beards here, though it would be rude to snap a picture…
Posted in Beards, Europe, Facial hair, Men, Russia, Spirituality, Travel, WORLD WIDE: Gay around the Globe!
Authentic Caucasian Food
Authentic Caucasian food, served at the Chabad in downtown Moscow by handsome, dark-eyed waiters from the Caucuses.
What do Caucasians eat, exactly? Chopped salads. Spicy chicken. Fresh herbs. Ground lamb. Flaky pastries for dessert.
Tasty.
-AidanAbroad
Report from Jewish Russia
I recently visited Eastern Europe – Warsaw and Poland – to learn more about what Jewish life is like there. I will post photos from my trip here, so stay tuned.
This is the first one: a map from the Jewish Community Center in Moscow. Each light represents a Jewish community somewhere in Russia.
-AidanAbroad
Posted in Europe, History, Russia, Spirituality, Subcultures, Travel
From Azerbaijan to the Ukraine, San Francisco GLBT Gay History Museum is World-wide News
Opening Night at the Gay History Museum
The GLBT History Museum that just opened in the City is making news in (among other places) Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Serbia and The Ukraine. This just in from Belarus. From curator and friend of this site Gerard Koskovich, who is always looking for new and better multi-lingual search strategies. For an original content slide show from opening night, click here.
Posted in Collecting, Europe, History, Russia, San Francisco, Subcultures
Tagged Art, Castro District, Culture, Gay, Gay History Museum, GLBT Historical Society, GLBT History Museum, History, Kultury, Leather, LGBT, San Francisco
Vitas Bumac wrestles a Violin into Submission, escapes his Cage and Shatters Glass. Smile!
It’s called Smile. Sure it is. A cold-war gumshoe dandy delivers ear-splitting wails while theatrically clutching a violin we only hear simulated on the high end of his five-octave range. A noose swings provocatively, a caged canary escapes, glass shatters. This one from the always strange and inventive Vitas Bumak. Nostalgia, loss, grief and rage filtered through an arch sense of cornball drama. The stuff of opera and life and good enough reason to…Smile! More Vitas here and here.
Vitas Bumac shatters Glass, sprouts Gills. Sexy Russian Pop Opera!
Sexy Russian Pop Opera singer Vitas Bumac composes, orchestrates, designs the costuming and art-directs his videos and stage productions. The live version of this piece, complete with a hooded orchestra, can be found here.
Posted in Music, Russia, Video
Tagged Breaking Glass, Male Soprano, Opera, Russia, Transformation, Vitas, Vitas Bumac
The extrordinary voice of Vitas Bumac – sexiest Russian since Nureyev.
Singer and composer Vitaliy Vladasovich Grachyov, known as Vitas, was born in the Ukraine in 1979. In 2002, he performed his Philosophy of Miracle at the Kremlin, becoming the youngest person to ever perform at the State Palace. Vitas, who designs his own costumes and staging, presented his fashion line, Autumn Dreams, later that year. Vitas’ performances easily move between and combine opera, synth-pop and rock genres. With hooded orchestras, hybrid processions and sartorial excess, his performances are underwritten with mystery, ritual and an erotic charge that explodes regularly into a spine-chilling male soprano that has little to do with the grating tones of typical falsetto. More here and here.
The Gay Highwaymen 