Theme of the seminar was - "Heterosexist cultural
matrix". The report read director of Saint - Petersburg LGBT organization "Vihod" Valery Sazaev.

The seminar was spent in the office of the Moscow Helsinki Group. In the course of the seminar nature of homophobia,
transphobia was explained at a deep scientific level.

From the report it appeared to be that there is a censorship to a gender sign, in newspapers, magazines, on TV where open
adequate opinion is not presented, for example, feminists, childfree (those who do not want to have children), gays,
lesbians and other gender groups. In simple words mass media ignores opinion of those people who are not in the
hetero-standard scheme.

By means of gender censorship are established certain norms and standards, including personal relationships between
people, as concrete subjects of interaction in cultural and social room. Moreover when we speak about socialization and
enculturation, we should understand that here this "dominating muscularity" plus heterosexuality as dominating type of
human relations as a matter of fact are ideological constructors.

Why the given system of relationships is considered to be an ideological constructor? First of all, because it is a
certain system of relationships which is imposed, dominates, it aspires showing itself and reproduces itself. The term
"compulsory heterosexuality" was entered by feministic theorist Adrienn Rich in 1980. And it means - political
(ideological) institute in patriarchal system; heterosexuality which is constantly imposed, regulated, which is organized,
propagandized and it is remained violently.

It turns out that from the early childhood in maternity home when boys are tied a blue strip and girls pink, all of us
are entered in a heterosexist matrix.

We, representatives of LGBT community as gender nonconformists are not in gender norms and installations, i.e. we
undermine this system within. However practice of undermining of any social system within is a deconstruction practice.
The deconstruction is a style of critical thinking directed on searching of contradictions and prejudices through analysis
of formal elements. The purpose of deconstruction is a dogmatism exposure in all kinds.

So heterosexist cultural matrix is a historically designed system of imperious relations confirming domination of
heterosexuality in culture over all other forms of sexuality. And we all should understand that deconstructive work of
activists should be directed on its overcoming. The second part of the seminar was a discussion on which participants,
applying the received knowledge discussed prospects of development of LGBT community. Various ways of influence on a
society were discussed: to live openly, to educate social institutes, the state structures, to create alternative culture
etc.

It was a final seminar of interregional movement for the rights of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transsexuals of Russia
"LGBT Rights" held one more seminar due to the project "Stairway to Heaven". It is necessary to add that the cycle of
seminars of the project "Stairway to Heaven" has been approved for the first time this year and further it will be
finished. We took into consideration wishes of participants and in next season we will be glad to invite you to seminars
on subjects already familiar to you, and also on new educational seminars which we will start due to this project again.