“Some studies actually showed that that Russian drinkers lived longer than non-drinkers. [Michelle Parsons] suggested an explanation for the apparent vodka paradox: for what it is worth, alcohol may help people adapt to realities that otherwise make them want to curl up and die. Parsons, who called her book "Dying Unneeded", argued that Russians were dying early because they had nothing and no one to live for.”

-Masha Gessen, The Future is History

Masha Gessen is a staff writer for the New Yorker and a scholar of Russian domestic politics, especially in regard to Vladimir Putin. In this discussion, she describes why and how a resurgent cultural right-wing in Russia helmed by Putin has singled out and criminalized the queer community in Russia and pushed standards of toleration back into Russia's illiberal past. She once described herself, accurately, it would seem, as "the only openly gay person in Russia."

---

The original video can be found here, my thanks to Davidson College for providing and maintaining this recording which first aired in February 2018.

The keynote itself is untitled, and so the title "Putin and the Political Uses of Homophobia" is my attribution.

As always these talks are syndicated for educational and nonprofit purposes in accordance with Fair Use. They are produced ad-free, because I listen to my own stuff on here and like you, I hate ads.

These recordings have been remastered for clarity, ease of listening, and concision and have been downmixed to mono so that they are lighter and easier to stream, wherever you are. 

Furthermore my historical and philosophical writing, which is also entirely free is available at my blog, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Hemlock⁠⁠⁠⁠, on Substack.

The music of the intro and outro (Bach's Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major) is licensed under non-commercial attribution, and can be ⁠⁠⁠⁠found here⁠⁠⁠⁠ and has been remixed by me.

Enjoy.