We are still wearing our laced black veil over our gorgeous mugs in memory of Olympic wrestling, which yesterday was killed as an official sport of the Games by the IOC. We haven't even dried our mascara-laden tears and already a homophobic Russian is blaming us US for the banishing of one of our favorite sports. Kick us and pin us while we're down, why don't you??

Tattoos on the butt or near sexual organs are as close to gaydar as the homophobic Russian Defense Ministry can get, apparently. According to the Ministry, tattoos in these regions indicate a person's sexuality, so it will naturally force soldiers to drop trou so that doctors can interpret their tattoos like some sort of inkblot Rorschach test.

We're curious. The Huffington Post brought this exhibition, titled "Asylum" by gay photographer/filmmake Alexander Kargaltsev to our attention.

In it, Kargaltsev captures Russian gay male asylum seekers that have escaped violence and discrimination in their country. The men have been shot naked against famous New York backdrops. 

The exhibit's curator, Ivan Savvine says of the work: "The models' nakedness is a powerful visual statement imbued with symbolism. They are not nude but naked, for they had courage to shed the many layers of fear and come out to the world uncovered, vulnerable, yet proud."

So here's our question: is this a legitimate commentary or just an excuse to get some hot Russian guys naked? You be the judge.&n...

A gay steward for a leading Russian airline was allegedly subjected to a bizarre anti-gay punishment after he attempted to create an LGBT support network. Details follow.  

Aww man, and we were so looking forward to visiting our 18th favorite landlocked dictatorship! Details after the jump.

What appears as more of a social experiment of what happens when RuPaul and Ricky Martin have a love-child, is actually one of Bulgaria's most celebrated figures. Who knew?! Details and Azis' new music video featuring steamy, hot, NSFW men after the jump.

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill (that’s the one above in the…umm…understated attire), spoke to his country on Wednesday via state-run news to deliver his, and further more the church’s, stance on homosexuality and the advancement of gay rights.

The Associated Press broke down the talking points, which to no great surprise echoed the fact that the church sees homosexuality as a sin. To that point, however, Kirill said that “those that sin” must not be punished or discriminated against. Hmm, an ever-so-slightly forward thinking take?

But with each tiny step forward, there are of course the blows backward. While Kirill says the church won’t discriminate, he also was quick to assure that same-sex unions...

Rated-R, the clever name of Rihanna's upcoming album, drops next month, but the title's first single was released today. "Russian Roulette" is slower than I like my Rihanna, but the girl continues to bring her trademark dark-tinted sound along with fetish-inspired cover art, which never hurts.

What do you think of "Russian Roulette"?