"First of all, the terms are extremely incorrect. The terms "passive homosexuals" and "active homosexuals" are not scientific terms, but they are common everyday words. It follows that the terms "homosexuality" and "homosexualist" are profoundly outdated terms, as the demedicalization of the phenomenon occurred in 1989-1990 (the tenth revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Health-related Problems). In Russia, ICD-10 was introduced into public health practice only in 1999 by 170 order of the Ministry of Health of 27.05.97. In the academic literature, the use of the terms "homosexual/homosexual" carries a negative connotation, and therefore demonstrates a homophobic approach (L.C. Klein, I. S. Kohn, G.B. Deryagin). In scientific context it is important to use correct terms – "homosexual", "homosexual person", "gay."

Further, the use of adjectives «active» and «passive» in the context of homosexuality is a stereotyped and scientifically unjustified approach. In everyday life, these adjectives are most commonly used to describe preferred sexual practices in terms of the theory of sexual inversion (Inversion theory of sexuality), that is, the assumption that homosexuality is similar to heterosexuals of the opposite sex. However, this theory has nothing to do with reality.

Secondly, there is the author's general position that homosexuality is equated with mental violations. The author conflates the concepts of social identity, sex orientation, mental abuse, sexual violence and forced sexual practices.

Unfortunately, homophobia among the scientific community is often directly linked to their low levels of knowledge.

"Let's try to deal with these "provisions" of the thesis work.

The impression made on the reader is that homosexuals are not only people with mental disorders, but also violent criminals who are out of control. However, the logic of this argument is completely distorted. To begin with, the phrases "passive" and "active" homosexuals refer to violent sexual practices that are used to cement social statuses within closed groups.

There is no such phenomenon as "homosexual inclination"; by definition this cannot exist. This is because homosexuality is sexual orientation (in other words, a vector of romantic, erotic, or sexual attraction) rather than action. Inclination – this is orientation predicated on action. This is a probably just a discussion of sexual practices within the work, and so it becomes clear that homosexuality is not directly related to sexual violence by some people in the penitentiary system.

Victims of sexual violence (in the dissertation they are called, for some reason, "passive homosexuals"), regardless of their sexual orientation, are described as "mentally and morally repressed people," precisely because they are exposed to "persecution by other convicts."

The phrases "concentration of persons in this category," "explanatory work on possible consequences of homosexuality" (here it is not very clear whether it is about consequences of sexual violence on the health of victims or some other consequences of non-existent disease "homosexuality"), and especially to reduce to a minimum free time of homosexuals, to conduct increased supervision of them" directly testify to the clear homophobic position, tendency of isolation of people (victims and authors of violence), increasing marginalization of victims of violent acts.

The heterocentric approach and use of sexual inversion theory in the thesis results in the stereotyping of "active" as masculine and "passive" as feminine behavior, a cause of their social position within a closed group."

"The term "perversia" or "sexual perversion" existed from the 1870s until the beginning of the 20th century. In everyday life, the concept of "perversion" is defined as sexual behavior not in accordance with public norms. In the ICD 10 (International Classification of Diseases the 10th revision) of 1989, from the section, "Disorders of sexual preference, including sexual deviations and paraphilia" (F65), homosexuality was excluded from the list of diseases thirty years ago. But perhaps the author means such "perversial contacts" as F65.5 sadomasochism (including sadism and masochism) – a desire to perform actions that cause pain and humiliation, show the subordinate position of the person targeted, or be the object of such actions. And in the ICD 11 (2018 version) there is already 6D33 (violent sexual sadistic disorder – sexual sadism with infliction of physical or psychological suffering on a partner who is not consenting).

I will not repeat any more about the household classification of "passive and active" homosexuals and "inclination to homosexual contacts" (as far as I understand, these are typical examples resulting from a low level of knowledge in the field of SOGIE – sexual orientation, gender identity and expression)."

"The phrase 'involvement' in the 'omitted group' is not about involvement, but about violence, because violence is not limited to physical harm or health. Other words, the "deceptive path," the "promise of patronage and protection from beatings by negative leaders," and the "repayment of debts" are words and phrases masking the only correct term in this case – VIOLENCE. These are victims of violence, not homosexuals. All these ways and methods of violence are not related to a person's sexual orientation.

There is no concept of "true homosexuals." As I said before, homosexuality is a vector of attraction, and only one can identify himself (i.e., within a social group) as gay, homosexual, bisexual, pansexual... The "truth" is determined by the person in this case – as his experience, feelings, and identity may not be expressed (or have no possibility to be expressed). And I don't understand how to explain the high level of "homosexual violence" and "relatively low prevalence" of "true homosexuals" "wishing to act as passive homosexual partner," especially since the author justifies his claim as "common human practice."

In this context, a gay person is presented as a sexual object, and the conclusion is that if there are more gays in detention (who prefer to be a bottom in the practice of anal sex), then, they will all be happy with the sexual activity used against them.

Furthermore: "As a rule, true homosexuals don't experience physical and sexual violence, they practice natural homosexual relationships, openly informing others about the peculiarities of their sexual orientation."

Following this logic, an openly heterosexual woman won't experience physical and sexual abuse, because the rapist practices natural heterosexual relationships. Or is it natural for any homosexual to have sex with anyone who would like to have sexual relations with him, in all quantities, in any form?

All of these statements are illogical and unjustified. If we start from the realities of penitentiaries in Russia, then openly stating one's homosexual orientation would be the last survival strategy for preserving one's life during the daily experience of physical, sexual and psychological abuse."

"The author justifies his assumptions with the fact that sexual violence against heterosexual men is carried out through "powerful traumatic physical pressure" (Does this mean that homosexuals are not beaten in cases of sexual abuse or less traumatic physical abuse?), and that heterosexual men have a drastically reduced micro-social status in the prison community.

The second has no explanation for the assertion that homosexuals "do not experience physical and sexual violence carried out against them," but it has some connection with reality. The social status of openly homosexual men is often lower than that of heterosexual or closeted homosexual/bisexual men in society (the concept of 'minority stress' can help explain this phenomenon), but can this determine the pathogenicity and degree of psychological trauma?

The subjective significance of forced sex acts cannot be measured with reference to sexual orientation and especially to 'female' sexual role. What the author means by discussing a 'female sexual role' is not clear. Is this the role of the victim of sexual violence? That of the receptive partner in oral and anal sex? Is this low social status because of their gender?

The further shocking finding is that homosexual men do not require psychological and medical assistance after sexual use.

Returning to terminology, the non-existent scientific concept of 'forced homosexuality' disguises what is, in reality, sexual violence."

"The examined dissertations concentrate on negative stereotypes of LGBT people in our society, as well as on echoes of repressive practices learned since the Gulag.

On the one hand, the prison subculture is an intensely negative influence, which has become ingrained in society. In few countries have so many people passed through "zones" and camps, and, having been freed, have transferred these rules and "concepts" "to the masses," including the depiction of LGBT individuals as the "offended," the most disempowered people "at the bottom" of the hierarchy – in fact, they are often seen as "nonhuman people." Нence, in many ways, these are the roots of this aggression.

On the other hand, we see that the prison system is very closed and inert, and it takes a lot of effort to humanize it. Both the prison administration and many detainees seem to be comfortable with the prevailing inhuman order. You'd think science would be free of prejudice and outmoded attitudes. But in "prison" works we see a whole series of pseudoscientific, outdated, if not frankly discriminatory "common places" and recommendations.

Firstly, sexual orientation refers to both psychiatric pathology as well as to a harmful and dangerous habit that requires preventive treatment and special measures, as well as to an offence (possibly echoing the decriminalized criminal article for "sodomy"). Sometimes, all of these positions can be found in the same work. All three approaches are anti-scientific, stigmatizing and repressive towards LGBT people.

Second, the sexual abuse and exploitation of prisoners from the "offended" caste (not only LGBT, but heterosexuals) is taken for granted, as a commonplace occurrence. With everyone knowing everything, there's total silence. Sexual violence doesn't make it into the prison statistics. There is also a larger problem here: very few crimes and violations against LGBT people reach the statistical records of human rights organizations. But in the prison system, it's still a lot worse: the statistics on sexual violence are absolutely insignificant, and violence has long been a part system.

Finally, the patriarchal and sexist lines of thought entrenched in men's communities about the "offended ones," especially those who in dissertations are called "passive homosexuals," visibly taking part in in "female" roles. Sexual exploitation of the "aggrieved" is perceived as almost "marital obligation," the term "wife" is recorded. From an activist perspective, this means that the women's equality movement and the LGBT equality movement have a place to cooperate.

"I would suggest to look at this issue from the prisoners' point of view. Usually, prisoners with a reduced social status are not divided into such groups, there is one large group – the "offended" (prisoners with a reduced social status). The "offended" within the system are called "cocks" and divided into "workers" and "non-working" (those used and those not used for sexual services). The reasons why the "offended" may be among the "non-working" are usually not related to the desire of the prisoner, but to external or behavioral factors: health status, age, hygiene, etc.

With regard to contacts forbidden by the camp subculture, I would ask the author to clarify which contacts he is referring to. For example, "dealers" (merchants, "baryzhnichat" means "trade") are also among the "offended." The "offended" prisoners wash, clean (this is also contact), enter into sexual contact. But prisoners from the other castes, of course, do not have tea with them from the common mug. Therefore, we cannot say that contact is forbidden, rather it is of a specific nature."

"I believe that the "offended" are still a part of the prison society they just occupy the lowest level of it.

The practice "lick the shoe," as well as "washing socks" has long ceased to exist. It was in the 60s and 70s. In the prison community, there is such a thing as a "shnyr," this is, a prisoner who performs simple "dirty" work (including washing someone's personal belongings), but serves his sentence with the status of a "man."

"People rush out of the "hut" when they are afraid or assume that they may be subjected to violence.

There are several options: a person is "put on skis," for example, if he has come to the "hut," but it turns out that he is "red" (cooperates with the administration).

The "offended" is usually not expelled; someone must clean the cell, provide sexual services. On the contrary, the cell watchers agree with the operatives or the security department to throw a young "cock" in with them."

In some isolators and correctional colonies there are cells for the "offended," it depends on the institution and approach. Many authors, almost everybody, in discussing one's conversion to the status of "offended," point out one of the reasons – gambling. These people do not fall into the "offended" caste, but rather, the prisoner who hasn't paid off his gambling debt on time gains the status of a "fuflyzhnik" (a person not worth of respect, a deceiver, a person who has not fulfilled their obligations). This would happen after a well-known "run" ("progon" – an appeal to "decent detainees" from the authorities of the criminal world, thieves under the law): "Don't breed bastards," – a phrase remembered in several works."

"Perhaps it was this way before, but now and in the late 90's, no one wants to 'spin' (that is, get a longer prison term) because of an 'offended' one. No one knows, for example, at the stage when he drinks tea with him, whether he is a 'cock' or not, if he does not say so. Or, if a prisoner has already served half a year, and then he is 'burned' (found out) that he was an 'offended' at the 'juvenile' (juvenile colony). This situation is highly likely to occur in a detention site. As a rule, the status of the prisoner is already known by the time of transfer to the colony.

There is such a rule – "it doesn't happen out of ignorance" – if a person doesn't declare his status, then the rest are not guilty, and no one will label the entire cell (a cell is a room for prisoners in a remand center, or in a SНIZO, or in a cell-type colony) as 'offended' ones. If other prisoners knew, but did nothing, then the entire cell is 'frozen' (the 'road' (prison mail) does not go through them, they do not go to the 'common fund' (mutual aid fund, common 'boiler' (cigarettes, tea) until the circumstances are clarified. The status of the camera at this time is equal to the camera of those who cooperate with the administration ('red' or for former law enforcement officers)."

"Here is a question: how do they have sex without touching? But sometimes, yes, they do, and, indeed, the "men" and the "offended" do not wash under the same watering can in the showers.

Regarding the "no-go ban". Yes, there are "offended" people who clean and do household chores. Of course, you can send it with them. The author has the idea that the penal isolation cell must be through the "ban", but it can be in the next room, and not only the "offended" have access to the "no-go ban".

The author also tells about the special situation of the "offended" – "wives of thieves". That was in the old days when prisoners shared a common bedside table, but everyone had his own shelf in that one to avoid touching the dishes. And that "offended" slept not in the "cock house", but on the second tier near his "man."

"In fact, the "thief" can be specially taken to the "cock" so that he "zapomoilsya" (makes contact with the "offended" and becomes the "offended" as well). And for him, the only option is to draw blood so that he can be taken out of the "hut" as quickly as possible. The administration also doesn't need to have two dead or injured people. Imagine, he is sitting with "obshchak", "podgon", "transfers", and of course he doesn't want to spend the rest of his term as a "cock." Therefore, he will fight "for the thieves' honor" anyway."

The quoted passage justifies the existing discriminatory and degrading prison hierarchy based on injustice and violence.

Of course, changing an existing system, which has been evolving for decades, is not easy. This requires a whole program of coordinated efforts and the will to implement it step by step. As long as the system is so opaque and closed, for example for representatives of the civil sector, as long as there is its own "interest" in its preservation among many participants, it is difficult to hope for real, not cosmetic changes. However, we can see that even within the framework of the "concepts" system there have been certain changes over several decades. It is sad that many of them have become the result of influence of criminal "authorities", and not the efforts of the Federal Penitentiary service."

"Now it is irrelevant, it is quite an old idea.

In 1999, when I was "sitting" in a detention site, they sent me a "progon" (when the criminal world authorities write and send recommendations for all prisoners. The recommendations are rewritten and sent to all the cells, excepting the "red" ones (who cooperate with the administration), the cells of ex-employees and the "offended" ones. The "overseer" of each cell reads these recommendations to all prisoners).

There is a very well-known note called "do not breed reptiles," in which "criminal authorities" recommend not to "lower" people for no reason (do not punish the "fuflyzhniki," card losers, debtors, etc.).

The "offended" person has no reputation, he will never be able to get out of his "caste," he has nothing to lose, so the administration of the institution can use him to their advantage. Therefore, in the late 90's, even in the appeals of "authoritative" prisoners, a request was recorded to "not to lower" "for lawlessness" or for minor – from the point of view of thieves' laws – offenses.

In a modern prison, you can be transferred to a lower caste for contact with the "offended" person (having tea "chifir" from one mug, kissing the "offended," etc.), sexual experience (homosexual or oral sex). As for self-transfer, it happens: a person can be "zadolbat" (psychologically broken), and then he will roll up his mattress and go to the "offended" group himself."

"Sexual violence is firmly engrained in the system. Privileged prisoners, as they say, "go for business and pleasure": they have "lowered" the person and earned "bonuses" at the same time. That is, the "offended" does not pose a danger anymore, and he becomes a laborer washing toilets. There is a demand for this caste, regardless of what they do, whether they wash toilets or provide "sexual services." This state of affairs is beneficial to everyone: either ordinary "men" and the administration.

If we consider that the next subject of our review is a dissertation based on the cases of more than 200 prisoners raped in prison (the author worked with them in 1997-2000), it is obvious that such crimes as rape are not registered, are not investigated, and the perpetrators are not punished.

We also found no mention of sexual violence in more recent reports. These crimes are really hidden, even when employees catch someone having sex, sexual contact is not specified as a reason for the penalty. Usually they are punished, allegedly, for smoking in the wrong place, for not wearing their ID badge, and for other alternative things."

"You can imagine the scale of violence if one institution has 223 cases in three years, and these are people who have been mentally impaired by sexual violence. This suggests that violence is widespread in the system. This isn't an isolated incident. It is mass concealed violence. The author conducted this research during a period when the cells were 3-4 times overcrowded, but still these are very indicative figures and stories."

"Nowadays most often they are raped and "lowered" by the so-called "reds", that is, prisoners who cooperate with the administration. "Black zones", where power belongs to criminal authorities, are becoming less and less, and the administration and cooperated with it structures have more powers.

Therefore, employees of institutions prefer to turn a blind eye to sexual violence. The system is not able to solve the problem of sexual violence in the institutions of the Federal penitentiary service and to ensure the perpetrators of this serious crime are punished.

Russian prisons prefer to hide the traces of the crime and hide the victim. According to article 13 of the PEC, in the case of a threat to the prisoner, he must be transferred to a safe place. Instead, the administration applies a disciplinary penalty and places the victim in a SHIZO (penal isolation cell).

Traces of beatings and sexual violence disappear during the time spent in the punishment cell, and it becomes almost impossible to prove the fact of the crime. FPS officers call it "adaptation," but in fact it is the concealment of a crime.

I have another question: why are rapists not placed in a detention site, why are criminal cases not initiated? In other words, a person is raped, but… he is also charged with a violation and placed in a SHIZO, PKT, or SUS.

The victims often don't realize that they are being abused. They can get tea or cigarettes for sex, and they have the illusion that they are willing partners in this transaction. It is important to understand that in fact they have no choice: the offended do not make the conscious decision to provide sex services, and receive only formal compensation for the violence committed against them."

"The author of the dissertation Zosimenko honestly assesses the risk of sexual violence in prisons as high. He says "the decline in status of the convict" after a sexual assault, about limiting victims' rights" and "powerful stressful factors" of violence, leading "to the development of various mental disorders" the victims of violence.

Another thing is that these reflections concern for some reason exclusively the majority of "heterosexually oriented convicts", as if sexual violence against non-heterosexual prisoners are common, if not "enjoyable"?

Exactly for heterosexual prisoners, according to the author, it turns out that "the desire to avoid continuing harassment and humiliation by others in the colony" is characteristic, which is "an indicator of the preservation of self-esteem and, in particular, the preservation of previously formed sexual orientation, in irreconcilable contradiction with which the previously imposed passive homosexual behavior enters." It's as if homosexuals are sleeping and dreaming of another act of sexual violence. Such a stereotypical image of a "terpila" is very far removed from reality...

Two years ago, the Alliance of heterosexuals and LGBT people for equality received a visit from a person who had spent 15 years in the status of the "offended." So, I have to say that he is all right with a sense of self-esteem and a desire to fight against injustice carried out against the lower caste members.

"The main problem is that in the Russian system there is no criminal punishment for rapists and there is no investigation of cases of violence. Moreover, it is necessary to punish those officials who hide such crimes. The perpetrators are not punished, the cause is not eliminated, and the violence continues. I doubt that work therapy and other recommendations can help in this situation.

For example, the author suggests building relationships. Here is a question: does a victim of violence have to build relationships with abusers?"