Interviews with Olim

Q. Where were you born and where did you grow up?

A. I was born in Voronezh, a pretty big Russian city located 530km from Moscow. In the scale of Russia, it is considered a suburb of Moscow!

Q. At what age did you come out? And how did it go?

A. I came out to a friend from my student group at age 20 and we still keep in touch despite the fact that he now lives in Stockholm. My lovely older brother outed me to my Mom at age 23, when he found my dating page and showed her. Nothing criminal was mentioned on it, but anyway that evening reminded me more of those typical gay films where the main character calms a sobbing mother for hours after coming out. Actually, the feeling was both a liberating and shocking experience at the same time, because I was almost ready to tell her by myself anyway. The path from never wanting to tell anybody and to being ready to this conversation took more than 12 years.

Q. Were you involved at all in the LGBT community in your previous country?

A. Both my husband and I only started to communicate with the LGBT community after moving to Moscow. There were many more opportunities and events, such as sport, camping, table games and volleyball training and competitions, but obviously none of them were easy to find at first. Actually, I wrote several articles for a Belarusian enthusiast from Silicon Valley who wanted to create a website for gays in post-Soviet countries with tips how to come out to family, friends and siblings.

Q. What is your involvement (if any) in the LGBT community in Israel?

A. I occasionally visit Qulpan and events of the LGBT English-speaking groups. In Hebrew, it’s quite challenging to stay on the same vibe as locals because they often have no patience to listen somebody who struggles to express themselves in Hebrew.

Q. How long since you made Aliyah?

A. 2.5 years

Q. Did you move here on your own or with family/friends/significant other?

A. I made Aliyah with my husband.

Q. Why did you make Aliyah?

A. I had an intuition, ahaha. There is no need to explain why a Jewish gay man and his husband would want to leave Russia.

Q. How is it going so far?

A. We are totally fine despite the situation since 7th October. All the struggles seem less crucial if you have your better half next to you and the freedom to take his hand on the street without fear. Some our friends are following our lead, because they see how beautiful and free life in a democratic country is.

Q. What do you do in terms of work?

A. I work as an architect in a big Israeli company.

Q. How is your Ivrit?

A. After studying at several Ulpans, I can speak Hebrew at level Gimel and participate in work meetings in Hebrew.

Q. What has been your biggest challenge so far?

A. The biggest challenge was to cope with homophobia in the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Holon when we went there to make Alyah with all the needed papers. It turns out the heads of some Ministries have as much power as prejudices against the same-sex couples.

Q. How do you perceive the Israeli LGBT community?

A. It surprised me with its progressiveness and activity,

Q. How is being LGBT in Israel different to your where you lived previously?

A. Totally different. Here, people look straight into the eyes and are not afraid to give compliments. Less external tension results in greater internal freedom.

Q. If you were making aliyah now, would you do anything differently?

A. Not much. I wouldn’t pick Misrad Hapnim of Holon for making Aliyah!