the others
Siprian, 72 years old, professor from London. First time he came to Russia in 1982, he taught in Moscow university. At that time on every lecture an army man was present to follow what is he saying to students. Till nowadays Siprian is discriminated every day (young people kidding him, rise their hands and shout: “Hail, Hitler!”), but he does not leave Russia, his aim is to enlighten young people, make them think about discrimination problems. He believes that fight against discrimination should be a separate discipline to be taught in school.
Lida, 23 years old. She wears man’s suite. Men find interesting her lesbian nature: “At least you will not sleep with other men!”, yet they get angry when she speaks of herself as a masculine. She never had relationships with men, but one day, she says, she might have a family and kids.
Nabi, 45 years old. Came from Azerbaijan. Teaches philosophy in university. Colleges are not very friendly with him, students also. They complain they do not understand him (Nabi has a small accent). Nabi is wondering: «Who understands philosophy well?»'
Tatyana, 29 years old, librarian. She worked in a library but then decided to devote herself to cultural work among the masses and become a leader. After actions sometimes somebody try to “support” her: “You are doing very good, in spite of being overweight you don’t have a complex!”. For sometime she took it as an offence, but now she considers it to be funny. “Before I had complexes, but now I am married and the most important, my husband supports me and loves me!”.
Lev Matveevich, 67 years old. “Many people laugh when they see me on the street. An old man should not look like tat - yet I do! Young people seat drinking, smoking, the point at me with fingers. The way they behave - is OK, nobody laughs»'
Alexandr, 20 years old. Being a kid he already felt sympathy to boys. Once in a company a girl seduced him, he lived with her one year and then broke up with her and stared living with a guy. All his friends turned their back to him, but after half a year everything was ok. Now he is even on friedly terms with girlfriends of his ex-girlfriend.'
Nadezda Pavlovna, 85 years old. She is getting more and more blind in last few years due to glaucoma and cataract. An opperation is not possible due to constantly high intracranial pressure. She does not go outside being afraid to fall dow. «I am not a human anymore: can’t see!»'
Lev, 51 years old, free-lancer. He found out that he is Jewish in childhood - kids started teasing him. He writes in his public blog, likes reading and travels. Calls himself “lay brother of Academy of arts” - works there as a watchman. “One day we went out of a bar with my friend (who has Russian nationality). Two guys approached us: “We don’t like your Jewish faces!”. We thought now they going to punch us. Suddenly one of them says: “Alright, just go away, this one has such a nice Russian face!” - and points at me. We left.'
Natalya, 32 years old. Natalya has kids cerebral paralysis. She likes painting, she can only do it using her mouth. Her paintings participated in many exhibitions. She paint nature from memory or looking out of her window. It is very difficult to move in the city using wheelchair.'