In late 2022, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine dragged on, President Vladimir Putin signed new legislation cracking down on LGBTQ communities. Almost ten years earlier, Russia had enacted a federal law that prohibited the promotion of “non-traditional sexual values”—seen as Western values—to anyone under the age of eighteen. Known by many as the “gay propaganda law,” it has been used to silence any public discussion or positive messaging about LGBTQ issues in any place or format accessible to minors, including the media and online. The new legislation expands on the 2013 law to cover all ages and all media, causing many to fear for a new wave of homophobic violence.
In Ordinary People, Ksenia Kuleshova, a rising star in the world of photography, has taken a series of intimate portraits, accompanied by short interviews of LGBTQ Russians who, despite the relentless homophobia from politicians, religious leaders, and the media, remain open about their sexuality and seek happiness and joy in their everyday lives.
In Ordinary People, the photographer also looks beyond Russia’s borders to people in the former Soviet states of Armenia and Georgia, who have taken their lead from Russia’s homophobic policies. Powerful and intimate, Ordinary People is a moving and ultimately joyful testament to the survival and resilience of the LGBTQ community in one of the most oppressive countries in the world.
The seventeenth entry in The New Press’s worldwide LGBTQ photobook series, Ordinary People is an arresting collection of full-color photos in a beautiful, affordable volume. It provides a portrait of young people navigating the ambiguities of friendship and sexuality as they enter adulthood and struggle with what it means to be queer in modern-day Russia and former Soviet states Armenia and Georgia.
As a documentary photographer based in Germany and Belgium, Ksenia has been featured in the British Journal of Photography as one of thirty-one women to watch (2018), as one of twenty rising women photojournalists by Artsy (2019), and as one of The 30: New and Emerging Photographers to Watch (2022). Her work has appeared in The New York Times, National Geographic, The Wall Street Journal, Die Zeit, and Focus and she is the author of Ordinary People (The New Press).
Given the powerful nature of her work and message in Ordinary People, we wanted to speak with her to learn more about the idea behind the project, safety measures she had to be mindful of, and the message she has for the queer community despite living in an increasingly hostile and homophobic landscape.
When did you begin taking photos for ‘Ordinary People’, and how did you find the participants?
In 2015, I started a conversation with two guys at the Copenhagen airport. They lived in St. Petersburg, and it turned out that they were a couple. I noticed that they did not hide their relationship on social media. Many questions immediately arose as to how this was possible in Russia, I remember how surprised I was by this fact. Aren’t they in danger? That was the moment when the idea for the project was born, which eventually turned into a five-year endeavor.
Also, my queer friends in Europe asked me how the community was doing in Russia. There was nothing I could say. I started the project because I didn’t know much about it and wanted to highlight my discoveries and give an extra platform for the community.
I call the participants of the project heroes because they are all heroes to me. Even the idea of the project was to capture the most ordinary moments that everyone has in life despite their orientation. That’s why the project is also called Ordinary People. Each one of my heroes is special. I admire their courage, bravery, and desire to live openly and freely, even though it’s easy to lose hope and faith in these difficult times.
The guys whom I met in Copenhagen became my first heroes. With them, the project began. I visited them in St. Petersburg in 2018, lived with them, and photographed their lives. I met their friends, who also wanted to participate, and the chain began. I wanted people to trust me, and with a recommendation from friends, that was the best way to do that. I also listened to podcasts, watched queer programs where interesting stories were told, and wrote to people I found online. But the best stories I learned from my heroes, and I asked them to tell me about those who would like to be part of the project.
As the anti-LGBTQ sentiment has grown over the past decade in Russia, how has the queer community turned to creative mediums for visibility and connection?
The LGBTQ community in Russia has been oppressed for a long time, but they always found a way to keep doing their activism, their podcasts, their media, and the human rights organizations that continue to exist and try to save lives. I would say the community has always been creative.
What were some of the most surprising stories you learned from your participants, despite the hostile and homophobic landscape?
I love pleasant surprises! While working on the project, I found some positive stories when families tolerate their children, don’t turn away after their child comes out to them, and accept them for who they are. It was truly wonderful to see that they are parents who love and support their children regardless of what.
Together with my heroes, we went to their parents’ houses and talked about everything. The parents got acquainted with the partners of their child and sent greetings after they got acquainted. I was blown away by how they communicate and look at their children and accept them. It was a wonderful experience!
There is such a sense of joy captured in many of your images. What can you tell us about witnessing the queer community create joy in their lives?
In my projects, I always try to approach situations and problems from a different perspective. I wanted to show that the queer community enjoys life and can appreciate the moment despite homophobia and all the difficulties. The fact that they are constantly made victims is something that many heroes of the project don’t like. It’s harder for them, they have to fight for things that should have been obvious to everyone a long time ago. Even though this is true, they know how to have fun and make their own happiness.
What were the challenges you faced while embarking on this project?
I was prepared for the project to be challenging from the beginning. The hardest part was to let myself and the heroes have time to get to know each other and work on the project together. Taking your time is the biggest challenge in all projects, but especially in this one. It is impossible to achieve anything without communication and trust. It took a lot of time, but it was worth it.
Do you have to take any protective measures when you release this book because of the anti-LGBTQ laws? And were there any safeguards you put in place to protect the people you photographed?
This was definitely one of the most important questions. We had numerous discussions with my heroes, and everybody was on board with a plan to have a book published in the USA and to have exhibitions. The book is not distributed in Russia. Moreover, there are no last names mentioned in the book and some heroes have already moved to other cities or relocated.
How do you hope your photography and visibility of the LGBTQ community in these countries will chip away at the homophobia in the culture?
It’s a long process, but every contribution counts. I know that the miracle will not happen immediately, but if we will not talk about this, it will not get better. I already see the results in my surroundings and I believe that small steps make a big impact. It’s important to document and powerfully present queer people, because they are still underrepresented, there are still so many problems with tolerance in the world.
This book is a tribute, respect to those who are openly queer and support, love to those who haven’t come out yet. I hope it helps someone to feel better. I hope people can also educate themselves by exploring the book because all phobias come from not knowing.
What message do you have for the queer community when they see themselves reflected in your images?
You are beautiful and unique, and please always remember that you are not alone. Love always wins. Always.
You can purchase a copy of Ordinary People via The New Press website. See more of Ksenia Kuleshova’s work HERE and follow her on Instagram. All photographs printed in this article are copyright Ksenia Kuleshova and published here with permission.
