Simeiz: Unique Crimean Gay Resort

The fame of Simeiz (located on the Crimean peninsula, near the city of Yalta) as a gay resort goes as far back as to the 70s, when homosexuality was still criminally prosecuted and hundreds of Soviet gays were jailed each year. In part due to its remoteness from main tourist attractions of the Republic of Crimea haunted by happy heterosexual families, Simeiz used to be (and so remains) the most flamboyant gay beach of the former Soviet Union. In terms of infrastructure, it has not much to offer as compared to Sitges in Spain or Key West in the States, but we promise you will never regret the days your spend there. We re-print below an article from the Ukrainian gay newspaper Our World praising the attractions of this heavenly beautiful place...

Those who stay in Simeiz can enjoy evening at a cafe with a strange name "Ezhiki" (Hedgehogs). An observant passer-by, having taken a look at the cafe's ground lit with multicolored light bulbs, can notice a few tables occupied by strange all-male companies. But does this matter in this cacophony of music, southern night crickets, guffaw and drunk cries? Drink your sweet Crimean muscatel, enjoy yourself and dance!

On the eve of departure our small male company dropped in this hangout too. A young waiter replied to our greetings with a timid smile, and I could not help requesting an improvised interview of him. I had always been wondering about the natives' attitude toward gays.

- Sure they are all know of the gays and there are no problems with this. They are the same as other people and they bring in an income - who would object to that? Up to seventy percent of our cafe's clients are gays (I guess he was quite stretching the truth. Still he is better informed).

- You are a handsome boy, I bet you were offered sex.

- Yes, I was. But I decline the offers politely as this is not up my alley.

- Since you've started working here and socializing with gays - has your view of them altered?

- Yes, and I guess to the better. They are very cultured and I've never noticed any rudeness or bad manners from their side. Other clients are different - constantly grumbling about this or that.

From gay.ru.

Fagburn sends fraternal greetings to the people of Crimea in their struggle for self-determination.

Exactly 70 years ago, on 17 March 1944, the Soviet Army started the operation to release Crimea from Nazi Germans.

Via @ClassicPics.