Russian Exchange Student 'Afraid to Go Home' Over Fears of Russia's Persecution of Gays

Russian Exchange Student 'Afraid to Go Home' Over Fears of Russia's Persecution of Gays

Flex

The lawyer for the Russian gay teenager at the center of Russia’s decision to end its student exchange program with the U.S. says her client is seeking political asylum in America due to fears of Russia’s crackdown on its LGBT community, Radio Free Europe reports:

“Our client is afraid of returning to Russia because Russia persecutes gay people. That’s what this is about,” Susan Reed, an attorney with the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, told RFE/RL on October 7.

The boy lived with an American family and attended a U.S. high school in 2012-13 as part of the decades-old Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX).

But he did not return to his home country at the conclusion of the exchange as required by the program. His decision to remain in the United States emerged last week when Russia cited the case in its decision to suspend its participation in FLEX.

AstakhovAnnouncing the end of the country’s participation in FLEX, Russia’s children’s rights ombudsman Pavel Astakhov [pictured right] said the student was “seduced” to stay in the U.S. by a Michigan gay couple. 

Reed told RFE/RL that the statements and reports from Russian officials seem to suggest “that there’s some person or some people whose sexual orientation is relevant. And that’s just not the case.”

“There’s no adoption, there’s no untoward behavior,” she said. “He met many caring adults, both gay and straight in the U.S., and he decided to stay here because he was afraid to go home.”


Kyler Geoffroy

www.towleroad.com/2014/10/russian-exchange-student-afraid-to-go-home-over-fears-of-russias-persecution-of-gays.html

Seven High School Football Players Charged With Sex Crimes For Penetration Hazing Ritual

Seven High School Football Players Charged With Sex Crimes For Penetration Hazing Ritual

Members of the Sayreville High football team not involved with the investigation.

Members of the Sayreville High football team not involved with the investigation.

Seven male high school students ranging in age from 15 to 17 have been charged with sex crimes following an investigation of the shocking football locker room hazing rituals at New Jersey’s Sayreville War Memorial High School.

As we reported yesterday, Superintendent of schools Dr. Richard Labbe had cancelled the remainder of this year’s football season in light of allegations of sexual misconduct in the boy’s locker room. According to an anonymous tipster, ritual hazing included upperclassmen shoving their fingers in the rectums of underclassmen, and then into their mouths.

After the discovery of “credible and substantial evidence” to support the claims, the AP reports six of the boys were arrested and charged with “aggravated sexual assault, criminal restraint, hazing and other crimes for an act of sexual penetration.” The seventh boy charged is still being sought.

“We will come together as a school district and greater community to harness the strength required to support the young men who may have been victimized and then to begin the healing process for our beloved community,” Dr. Labbe added.

He said on Friday, the school launched investigations to squash any harassment, intimidation and/or bullying in the school’s other athletic teams. Tomorrow night, concerned parents plan to hold an anti-bullying rally in a nearby park.

The boys in custody are awaiting a Family Court decision that will determine whether they’ll spend time in a juvenile detention facility for their crimes.

Matthew Tharrett

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/DIfDkZwVG6E/seven-high-school-football-players-charged-with-sex-crimes-for-penetration-hazing-ritual-20141011

Drag Diva Group Atlanta's Royals Cover 'Bang Bang' – VIDEO

Drag Diva Group Atlanta's Royals Cover 'Bang Bang' – VIDEO

Royals

Evelyn Caldwell (Miss Atlanta Grand Diva) and Evah Destruction (Miss Atlanta Rising Diva) will be giving up their Atlanta’s Royals titles later this month – and it looks like the drag divas won’t be going out without a bang. 

Check out their fierce cover of Jessie J, Nicki Minaj, and Ariana Grande’s “Bang Bang,” AFTER THE JUMP

Royals5

 


Kyler Geoffroy

www.towleroad.com/2014/10/drag-diva-group-atlantas-royals-cover-bang-bang-video.html