Russian Author Risks Arrest by Releasing Gay Themed Children’s Book

The very month that a law banning "promotion" of homosexuality among children and adolescents came into effect may seem an odd time to publish Russia's first young adult book against anti-LGBT prejudice.  

 Daria Wilke, author of "The Jester's Cap," told The Moscow News that it was "now or never." Ms. Wilke is risking arrest and a massive fine by releasing the children’s book with gay themes.  

The book is defying laws passed by President Vladimir Putin, which bans the spreading of ‘gay propaganda’ to children.

Daria Wilke’s new book tells the story of a 14-year-old boy named Grisha, who lives and works in a puppet theater with his family and an older gay friend called Sam.

Wilke is not living in Russia, as she emigrated from Moscow 13 years ago to the far more welcoming country of Austria.

Anti-gay protester at Gay Pride Event
St. Petersburg, Russia
June 29, 2013
Photo:  Alexander Demianchuk/Reuters

Speaking to The Atlantic, Wilke said: 

‘I wrote [the book] a year and a half ago, and the publisher was weighing when to release it.  But when these strange laws were being released — first the local anti-gay laws in various cities, then the broader one that passed just last month — eventually the publisher realized that if we didn’t release the book now, we might never be able to.  Because of these laws, in many bookstores, it has an “18+” stamp.

Wilke expects she would be quickly deported if she returned to her home country, but she has not heard from the Russian authorities about her book yet.


‘I haven’t had any bad reactions from the government,’ she said. ‘But then again, the book has only been out a month.'

R is for Russia

I have many Russian blog followers.  In fact, Russia is my second largest group of supporters, with the UK, France and Australia following, in that order.  Why, I've asked myself?  I do not know the answer.  I do know I'm delighted to have them.



The Kremlin
Moscow

Although I've not been to Russia, my son, Colin Stewart, has.  He still speaks of the beauty of the Kremlin in Moscow, the treasures of the Hermitage in St.Petersburg and the friendliness of the people everywhere.  I would love to see it for myself.

While living in London, we had (and still have) good friends from Moscow.  It was always fun to hear their tales of living in the capital and their trips throughout the vast country.  Hearing them always made us want to visit, and someday we will. 

The Hermitage
St. Petersburg

Until then, I'll check my blog stats that show, among other things, the number of visitors from each country.  I'll continuing wondering, as I do now, what brings them to my blog.  (It is translated into Russian, and that may make a difference.)

Please, some of you followers from Russia, let me know why you visit.  Do know that I am so happy you're here.  And, please, keeping visiting!

Visitors From All Over This Orb

I feel so blessed.  Many people from numerous countries have found their way to this blog.  I am grateful and humble as well. 

Earth Fron Space
(NASA Flat Map)

While I don't know who you are, I do know from which countries you come.  And you are from everywhere.  Argentina to Belarus to the Czech Republic to India to Malaysia to Russia to the United Kingdom and so many other countries are represented. Welcome to this blog!

We are a small neighborhood, this village Earth.  We must be a caring community, where needs are met and people are valued, no matter their race, religion or gender.

Why can't this happen?  It is such a simple concept. 

The reality, of course, is a different matter--complex, multifaceted and fraught with borders and protectionism.  I know that. 

But as I receive statistics showing the myriad places from which readers come, I am heartened.  Why?  Because we are all human, most of us with the requisite amount of goodness it takes to make our home a habitable, safe place once again.  And if we all, or at least some of us try, we surely will succeed.

Blogging About Blogging

It's difficult to determine what topics interest our blog followers and what will make people want to read them. For instance, people cannot seem to get enough of the Gulf oil spill.  Yet, I feel as if I'm overloading everyone with the topic.  On the other hand, when I move to another subject, readership falls off a bit.  What's a blogger to do? 

An interest in the oil spill is particularly high in the rest of the world, judging from the stats coming in from other countries.  When I blog about the spill, I hear from many people in countries such as  Russia, the UK, Germany, Hungary and the Philippines, just to mention a few.

Another topic of high interest is anything about marine animals, most notably Winter, the tailless dolphin who now wears a prosthetic tail and lives at the Clearwater Beach Marine Aquarium in Clearwater, Florida.   Of course, she's a great interest of mine, too! 

Certainly both of these topics are germane to my series of Bella and Britt books relating the girls' adventures while living at the beach.  But there should be something more as well. There should be a common human bond between blogger and reader.  There should be that spark of, "Aha, we're on the same page."  Or, "I don't agree, but I understand where she's coming from with this."

If we are able to reach a modicum of understanding with each other, we've both accomplished something pretty special.  Of that, I am convinced.

So, Dear Reader, please send me your serious suggestions for a worthwhile blog within the parameters of children's books, conservation and other worthy and timely topics.  I'll even mention your name if you'd like, no matter where in the world you are.  

Blogging with a view to making our planet a better place is a tall order, indeed, but such a worthy one.  To that end, I'll keep in mind readers' interests and concerns.  Oh, and I'll try to have a little fun with it, too.