As an LGBT, it’s really hard to live in Russia. Everywhere I go, even if I’m not with my girlfriend, Vladlena, I am threatened to be hurt or to be killed. Ever since that, I lock myself in my room most of the day, I skip school, and I don’t show my face to the world. My parents don’t even think that I should be an LGBT, so they forced me to date a boy I wasn’t even into. And the funny thing is, we’re both LGBTs. Two days ago, I was in my room, staring out the window, and I saw two women. They were holding hands and talking to each other. It reminded me of Jennifer and me. Then I saw some randoms walk up to them. Out of nowhere, they started beating them up. I looked away for about one minute, and when I looked back, the two women were gone. All that was left was a trail of red. Red BLOOD. After that, I didn’t want that to happen to me, so I call my old boyfriend, who is one of my best friends, to come over. So when we go outside, we have to go out together and “hold hands” as straight people would do. I obviously tell Vladlena, but she doesn’t care as long as I don’t get hurt. Gay people get hurt because people, dumb people, think that they are “dangerous”. I want to help, but I would most likely die because supporters also die for supporting us LGBT people. I want this all to stop. I want to go outside freely and be respected by all people. I want Russia to be more like my old home, my home in America, my home where no one cared if I was an LGBT. Let’s hope Russia can change her ways………………

Love,
Alina

P.S. LGBT rights are human rights.

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