Gaycation Season 2 Episode 1
Gaycation
Season 2

Ep 1. Ukraine

  • September 7, 2016
  • 8.1  (50)

Gaycation is a television series co-hosted by Emmy-award winning actress Ellen Page and her best friend, Ian Daniel. The show is about travel and exploring different cultures and locations around the world through a gay lens. In season two, the duo travels to countries where it is illegal or dangerous to be gay. The first episode titled “Ukraine” takes the viewers on a journey to Eastern Europe to explore the country's views and treatment of the LGBTQ+ community.

The episode begins with Ellen and Ian arriving in Ukraine, a country divided between pro-European Western regions and pro-Russian Eastern regions, with a history of political turmoil. They show viewers various parts of the country, including the beautiful city of Kiev, which has been the site of revolution and bloodshed. Like all episodes of Gaycation, it is not just about the scenery, but about the stories of the people behind it.

Ellen and Ian visit a local gay bar and begin an open dialogue with the patrons. The bar is hidden behind a plain door and is located in a shady alleyway. Inside, it’s a safe haven where people can be themselves, but they still must be cautious. The owners explain that the bar is private, and they are constantly looking over their shoulders during the day, afraid of a raid by the local authorities. The experts and experts are afraid of the government, even though homosexuality is legal in Ukraine. They explain that they still face oppression in society. The crew also meets several gay activists who are fighting for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community in Ukraine.

The episode goes on to show how the Ukrainian people view homosexuality, including the religious perspectives, social norms, and government influence on their attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community. The crew interviews priests, politicians, and non-profit workers who offer varying opinions on how to integrate the LGBTQ+ community into Ukrainian society. The team also travels to Lviv to see different cultures of Ukraine. Here, they meet two young men who had a failed experience attempting to come out and be open about their sexuality. They share their love story and struggles of being gay in Ukraine, with a language barrier;

The episode ends with Ellen and Ian’s trip to a carnival, where they encounter youth with different views on homosexuality, most of which are negative. They reveal that many youths in Ukraine have successively been subjected to the government's conservative agenda that instills anti-LGBTQ sentiment in them. The experience and the narratives they accrued help Ellen and her co-hosts explain that homosexuality in Ukraine is not yet accepted by the population and that the government needs to do more to protect the spirit and rights of the LGBTQ+ community since it is in line with the United Nations inalienable human rights.

In conclusion, the "Ukraine" episode of Gaycation season two is an insightful exploration of the cultural, social, and political complexities that affect the LGBTQ+ community in a country that is neither completely accepting nor rejecting. The episode highlights different perspectives and, at times, sharp differences on LGBTQ+ issues across various sections of Ukrainian society. Ellen, Ian, and the crew do an excellent job of balancing the challenges with the beauty that lights their journey to Ukraine. It’s a highly recommended episode that could provide the audience with a brighter view of the struggles of the LGBTQ+ community Ukrainians face in the Eastern frontiers of Europe.

Description
Watch Gaycation - Ukraine (s2 e1) Online - Watch online anytime: Stream, Download, Buy, Rent
Gaycation, Season 2 Episode 1, is available to watch free on Tubi TV and stream on Viceland. You can also stream, download, buy, rent Gaycation on demand at Vudu, Viceland, Apple TV online.
  • First Aired
    September 7, 2016
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    8.1  (50)