Dr. Igor Kon, a well-known Russian scientist and expert in sexology, described on his official internet site the "Bok o bok" LGBT film festival as "a success under existing not favorable conditions". For reference - Igor Kon was in panel of judges of the movie forum that only after the second attempt could have become a reality.

"In May of 1994 the first festival of German homoerotic and lesbian films openly took place in Saint-Petersburg in "Spartak" cinema and was very popular among the people of the city. In 2008 the gay movie festival was ruined by homophobes because there was not a single club that could have enough courage to host such an event in its premises or in other cases local Fire Agency issued on the very eve of its grand opening bans to open the LGBT movie show on the supposed grounds of fire precaution measures and safety regulations.

This year EU member states' General Consulates gave a hand to LGBT movie festival organizers by not only conceding gay-themed films produced in its countries for free presentations but also allowed to use its Cultural Centers' premises with faultless fire prevention measures", replies Igor Kon. He also stresses the fact that "there was not a single erotic film among presented movies however the small cinema halls of the above mentioned Cultural Centers were overcrowded by refined and esthetically sensible  audience".

"The success of the "Bok o bok" LGBT film festival in Saint-Petersburg was very convincing of the fact that the city has indeed the LGBT community that is united not only by common stigmas but also by mutual cultural interests", concludes Dr. Kon.

Translated by Yerdna Bananes