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Documentary about first Soviet sexologist Igor Kon receives a festival prize

April 16, 2025

The documentary "Why I Swam Against the Current" about Igor Kon, the first Soviet sexologist who pioneered public discourse on sexuality in the USSR, was released by Russian opposition media outlet Meduza on YouTube. Kon, born in 1928 in Saint Petersburg, became widely known in the mid-1980s for openly discussing sexuality, a taboo subject in Soviet society, and for being the scientific voice of reason in popular media during a time of significant societal change. Despite facing discrimination as a Jewish academic, he conducted groundbreaking research on sexuality, homosexuality, and gender roles, while also fighting AIDS stigma.

Who is affected

  • Igor Kon, the Soviet sexologist, sociologist, psychologist, and doctor of philosophical sciences
  • The Soviet/Russian public who gained knowledge about sexuality and gender from Kon's work
  • LGBTQ+ people in Russia who Kon defended
  • HIV/AIDS patients who benefited from Kon's efforts to reduce stigma
  • Academic communities both in the USSR/Russia and the West where Kon lectured

What action is being taken

  • Meduza is releasing a documentary about Igor Kon on their YouTube channel
  • The documentary "Why I Swam Against the Current" is receiving recognition, winning a prize for best director at Artdocfest
  • Political homophobia is spreading in Russia, with the LGBTQ+ "movement" now considered "extremist" under Russian law
  • Conservative groups in Russia are continuing to oppose the values Kon championed

Why it matters

  • Kon was a pioneering figure who broke taboos around sexuality in a highly restrictive Soviet society
  • He provided scientific expertise during a crucial period of social change in the 1980s-90s when sex education was first emerging in the USSR
  • His work fighting AIDS stigma helped establish treatment protocols in Russia since 1990
  • The documentary highlights scientific courage and moral responsibility in the face of persecution
  • The film illustrates the deterioration of personal freedoms in Russia under Putin's regime, where Kon's progressive values have been systematically suppressed

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Global Voices