"They hate me in vain - LGBT Christians in Today’s Russia" 2013 (C)

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The first film to address the reality of LGBT Christians in Russia. 

They Hate Me in Vain – LGBT Christians in Today’s Russia is a 2013 documentary that examines the lived reality of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in Russia—focusing especially on LGBT Christians who face discrimination both within society and from religious institutions. The film looks at the impact of Russia’s 2013 law banning so-called “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations,” a law that has contributed to increased violence, social exclusion, and political distraction from broader societal issues. Through interviews, archival footage, protest documentation, and personal testimony, the documentary presents the struggles of LGBT individuals navigating faith, identity, and prejudice in contemporary Russia. The title references a verse from the Gospel of John (15:25), suggesting persecution without cause.

​https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5164744/​

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LGBT Christians are a double minority. They are hated by the atheist LGBT majority and they are hated by other Christians.  

Their situation has become increasingly difficult since the passing of homophobic law 6.21 in 2013. This legislation outlaws the “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations to minors.” The law pretends to protect minors from moral corruption, but in reality it legitimizes violence against LGBT people, promotes bullying, stifles freedom of the press and deflects attention away from the country’s real social problems.

This film mainly deals with the current situation in Russia. However, its issues are common to all territories of the former Soviet Union. 

The film features Russia’s most well-known LGBT activists: 

Andrew Obolensky, Nikolay Alexeyev, Valery Sozaev and Yury Maximov; as well as Bishop  Volodymyr Wilde of the autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church and Pastor Jim Mulcahy of the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC).

The film presents:

- Footage of demonstrations and protests in Moscow;

- Material from Russian language websites dedicated to documenting violence against LGBT people; 

- Exclusive footage from an ecumenical Christian worship service held to close the 6th Annual Eastern European and Central Asian Forum of LGBT Christian groups

this year in Kiev (Ukraine); 

- Testimony by common people who want their voices heard in Europe and across the world. 

The original title refers to the Gospel of John 15:25. According to the Synod translation into Russian, this phrase literally means, “They hate me in vain”. It reminds us that Jesus Himself was persecuted for His ideas which society saw as contradicting morals of the majority. 

Trailer​

The film was directed and produced by Yulia Matsiy under her company, YM Film Production LLC, and has the patronage of Amnesty International (Sezione Italiana).

The film screened in 13 countries, on 57 Film Festivals and cinema events.

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