Reggie Yates Outside Man Season 1 Episode 5 Russia: Gay & Under Attack

Reggie Yates Outside Man season 1 episode 5 delves deep into the lives of the LGBTQ+ community in Russia, exploring the brutal reality of their existence. In a country where there have been rising attacks on the community, Reggie tries to understand the harsh social and political landscape that has made it so difficult for them to exist.

The episode starts with Reggie being frank about the nature of the country, warning the viewers about the cultural differences they may encounter. He also informs us of the immense danger that the LGBTQ+ community faces as there is no legal protection for them in Russia. As he meets with different individuals, he listens to their struggles and how the homophobic state and society have put them through unimaginable agony.

The episode captures Reggie's first contact with the LGBTQ+ community in Moscow as he visits the apartment of an art performer Polina. She is known for her jaw-dropping costumes and make-up which is a means of protest against the conservative stance of the country. With Polina's help, Reggie goes around the city, discovering how it feels to walk in the shoes of the community members, and also digging deeper into how the political climate affects their day-to-day life.

Through the course of the episode, Reggie interviews different individuals, each of them sharing their own personal experiences of being part of the LGBTQ+ community in Russia. He meets with a group of lesbians who face difficulty in sharing their love with others because of the societal norms that dictate women should be with men.

Reggie's quest also leads him to meet with a transgender man who has been fighting a legal battle against the government since they have classified gender reassignment without surgery as psychiatric disorders. He discovers how difficult it is for people like the man to navigate the system, and how limited their choices are when it comes to healthcare.

The episode also includes an interview with an infamous anti-LGBTQ+ campaigner who takes a staunch conservative stance, questioning the community's right to basic human rights. Reggie is not afraid to confront him, asking him the hard questions and challenging his views.

Throughout the episode, Reggie does not shy away from asking the tough questions. He probes deep into the challenges faced by the community, and questions how far Russia's society will go to resist change. It becomes apparent that the community members deal with violence, discrimination, threats, and persecution as they advocate for the right to be treated like every other citizen in their country.

In summary, Reggie Yates Outside Man season 1 episode 5 - Russia: Gay & Under Attack is an eye-opening and heart-wrenching exploration of the struggles faced by the LGBTQ+ community in Russia. Through showcasing different individuals and hearing their stories, Reggie reveals how the community members fight day in day out to ensure their basic human rights are respected and guarded. The episode is a timely reminder about the impact of societal beliefs and how they can hold a people/ community hostage for many years.