‘The gesture translates to ‘go **** yourself’ Experts evaluate photo evidence in the case of the ‘immoral’ LGBT teacher

On Tuesday, April 21, a district court in St. Petersburg refused to reinstate a homosexual teacher who was fired in December 2014 from a local school for “immoral conduct.” The teacher sued the school, seeking reinstatement to her job and 300,000 rubles (roughly 6,000 dollars) in compensation for moral damage. In its ruling, the court drew from an expert evaluation of the teacher’s photos from social networks. (The court’s full declaration of intent will appear in a few days.) Meduza has published excerpts from the evaluation of the photos.

The dismissal of a St. Petersburg music teacher (Meduza reported this story in December 2014) was the result of efforts from local activist Timur Isaev, who was engaged in “forced outing.” This means he searched for lesbians and gay people on social networks and reported them to their employers. At the time of his activism, he told Meduza that 29 teachers were dismissed as a result of his activities. On December 22, Isaev was arrested and is currently serving time on charges of embezzlement, according to the local St. Petersburg news source Fontanka.

Isaev repeatedly appealed to the principal of St. Petersburg School Number 565, demanding that Anastasia (name changed) be dismissed. In a letter addressed to the school, he wrote: “You have an unhealthy, psychologically abnormal lesbian teacher working for you;” “This teacher openly reveals on social media that she is an immoral lesbian and that she lives or cohabitates with another unhealthy woman just like herself;” “We strongly urge you to dismiss her for incompetence in the profession.”

The principal’s final decision to fire Anastasia seems to have been influenced by the social media photos, given to him on a CD by Isaev. The principal mentioned this in a personal conversation with the teacher. At the same meeting, he told her: “There is criminal liability for committing immoral acts. Do you want me to write your dismissal under Article 81, Paragraph 8 [under which teaching staff commit an immoral act incompatible with the continuation of educational work], and then I’ll see you in court? Go on, try me.”

In December, Anastasia was dismissed from the school in accordance with that very article. On January 13, 2015 she appealed to court.

Below are excerpts from the expert evaluation of the photographs from the case. The photographs were evaluated “in order to determine the compatibility of the examined pictures to moral norms and ethics accepted in Russian society.” The examination was carried out by Alexei Moroz (Ph.D. in pedagogy, priest, and chaplain of the organization Assembly of Orthodox Intelligentsia) and Tamara Berseneva (Ph.D. in pedagogy, Ph.D. in philosophy, author of “A Framework for the Spiritual and Moral education of Russian students”).

Photograph Number 1

The subject under investigation extends her right hand and demonstrates a raised middle finger, a gesture depicting the phrase known as “fuck you”... On the forearm of the left hand of the subject there is a clearly visible tattoo (an inscription in a foreign language) ... The lips and facial expression of the subject under investigation express contempt for others ... The left hand is placed on the shoulder of the right arm, making the demonstrated gesture more aggressive.

The actions depicted in the photographs demonstrate extremely unacceptable behavior from a moral standpoint, i.e. the demonstrated gesture is vulgar, rude, and indicative of extreme contempt for society. The gesture translates to “go **** yourself.”

Such behavior in everyday life, the fixation of such behavior on camera, and its disclosure or distribution on the Internet is unacceptable for anyone trying to adhere to the moral foundations of society, and for teaching staff especially.

The acts committed by the subject under investigation can have a detrimental effect on the children being educated, on adolescents and young adults, and can lead to the further acts of misconduct from the side of the subject under investigation, which will have detrimental effects on the adolescents being educated. 

Photograph Number 2

The lips, face, and pose express an act of “grimacing in front of the camera,” a demonstration of stupid behavior ... The actions depicted in the photographs are unacceptable from a moral standpoint, i.e. the object of study is depicted wearing undergarments, thus promoting stupidity and stupid behavior (wearing undergarments, a fur hat on the head, and ski goggles on the face).

These actions demean and humiliate others, challenge the authority and image of the teaching staff in the eyes of the public, and propagate obscene behavior in public.

Photograph Number 3

The young women stand facing each other in an embrace. The poses of the young women, their actions and facial expressions demonstrate that the women are very likely to be in a close intimate relationship with each other.

Given that we are talking about two young women, their intimate relationship is likely to be of a homosexual (lesbian) character, judging by the photographs.

The photograph shows an intimate scene manifesting sexual relations of lesbian character of the subject under investigation, expressed in a public place.

The action is extremely unacceptable, as it publicly demonstrates the intimate aspects of the subject’s personal life and her perverse (lesbian) sexual preferences, which express utter contempt for society and its moral and ethical principles.

These actions promote and justify obscene, immoral behavior, non-traditional sexual relations, also among children and adolescents. The actions contribute to the formation of unconventional sexual attitudes, demonstrate the false appeal of nontraditional sexual relations, represent a false social equivalence between traditional and non-traditional sexual relations.

Photograph Number 4

Kissing on the lips in the style of “lots of tongue” pointedly shows that the women are very likely to be in a close intimate relationship.

These actions are humiliating and demeaning to others, and express contempt for society.

Photograph Number 5

The photograph is of a young woman and another young woman, likely located in a nightclub, a cafe, restaurant or other such entertainment venue.

The young woman with blond hair holds a glass in her right hand, her midriff is bare... The subject of the investigation has her right arm around the bare midriff of the young woman with blond hair, strongly holding her and pressing the blond woman to herself.

The actions depicted in the photographs are extremely unacceptable from a moral standpoint.

* * *

Each photo analysis was followed by a conclusion: “The actions of the subject captured in the photograph, as well as the distribution of the photographs on the Internet by the subject under investigation, should be regarded as immoral acts incompatible with the exercise (continuation of the exercise) of the investigated subject’s educational duties.”

Anastasia told Meduza that she will appeal against the court's decision. “Yesterday I proudly wiped away my tears. If necessary, I will go to the European Court,” she said.