Yet another session of ComingOutCinema, on December 20 (Saturday), will be dedicated to the questions of religion and homosexuality. We will show the documentary film Fish Can’t Fly (USA, 2005, 83 min.).

Main theme of the film is “reparative therapy”, which is offered by several Christian and some near-religious groups as means of curing homosexuality. The film tells the story of several religious gays and lesbians who at one point in time decided to cure their sexual orientation and sought help from religious “specialists.” These stories can’t leave you indifferent, as people tell about years of their lives spent “tilting at windmills.” Through the prism of their lives the viewer sees the lies that entangle the ex-gay industry in the West.This film is especially interesting for Russia at the moment. Propagandists of reperative therapy are beginning to work more actively. A leading figure of the ex-gay movement, Paul Cameron, arrived in June 2008, for instance. The sociological faculty of the Lomonosov Mocow State University became a platform for his appearance. In November 2008, a book of the most important ideologists of reperative therapy, J. and L. Nicolosi, was first published in Russia. In all likelihood, the activity of religious fundamentalists does not randomly increase and will continue. It is in our hands to prevent lives from being destroyed by reperative therapy. But therefore it is necessary for us to be informed.

Furthermore, the film Fish can’t fly helps us to reflect not only on the meaning of religious believes in the lives of gays and lesbians and of our families, but also on the place of organized religion and non-institutionalized spiritual practices.

The organization “Coming Out” thanks the service “Nuntiare et Recreare” for approval of the film.

After the film, a discussion with invited guests takes place consuetudinarily.

We will be happy to see you on Saturday, December 20, at 6 p.m., Ligovskiy Pr., 87, office 300