--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Were there open gays and lesbians before…" description: "\"Were there open gays and lesbians before the West started influencing Russia? No, there weren't. In fact, the most out person in the country, until rec..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e7/masha-gessen-2322_country_were-there-open-gays-and-lesbians-before_2789802.png" --- # Were there open gays and lesbians before the West started… ![“Were there open gays and lesbians before the West started influencing Russia? No, there weren't. In fact, the most out person in the country, until recently, was me. I turned gay in America. I was a nice Soviet fourteen-year-old when I left, and I came back a lesbian.” quote by Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e7/masha-gessen-2322_country_were-there-open-gays-and-lesbians-before_2789802.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e7/masha-gessen-2322_country_were-there-open-gays-and-lesbians-before_2789802.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e7/masha-gessen-2322_country_were-there-open-gays-and-lesbians-before_2789802.png) > “Were there open gays and lesbians before the West started influencing Russia? No, there weren't. In fact, the most out person in the country, until recently, was me. I turned gay in America. I was a nice Soviet fourteen-year-old when I left, and I came back a lesbian.” [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects on personal sexual identity transformation and the rarity of openly queer individuals in Russia before Western influence. **In simple terms:** Coming out in Russia was rare; the speaker’s journey shows personal change. Key Takeaway Recognize personal growth amid societal constraints. Themes identity culture LGBTQ+ migration Mood reflective determined Type interview personal narrative When to use this quote - coming out - discussing sexuality - cultural comparison Key Concepts personal narrative social change visibility Questions to Reflect On - How does migration affect sexual identity? - What barriers exist for LGBTQ+ visibility in Russia? A Different Perspective Western influence may not be the sole catalyst for change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Came Lesbian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/came-lesbian-3370736/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Gay America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay-america-2780220/) [Gays Lesbians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gays-lesbians-1125224/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nice/) [Open Gays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-gays-3370735/) [Soviet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soviet/) [Turned Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turned-gay-411525/) ## Related quotes > [There are lesbians, God knows... if you came up through lesbian circles in the forties and fifties in New York... who were not feminist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/there-are-lesbians-god-knows-if-you-came-up-through-lesbian-circles/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [I've learned that most of gay America is coupled up, or looking to be. 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