Stories of being gay in Russia

MOSCOW — Yegor grew up in a Siberian town called Lyubov, which means “love” in Russian, but he has never told his parents that when he falls in love, it is with other men.

“I don’t want them to feel ashamed,” Yegor, 34, wrote in response to an invitation to readers of The New York Times to share their experiences of what it is like to be gay in Russia. “This has nothing to do with legislation,” he said.

He was referring to a federal law signed by President Vladimir V. Putin in June banning “propaganda on nontraditional sexual relationships.” Officials say the law will protect children, but it is widely recognized as an effort to suppress homosexuality.