Earlier this summer, we featured German drag queen Barbie Breakout in the article Queens Make Bold Moves Against Russian Homophobia as she caught the world's attention with her riveting and moving video, “Open Your Mouth.” The video was made as a means of protesting and spreading awareness about the homophobic laws passed in Russia. In the video, Breakout silently sews her lips shut with a needle and thread, symbolizing the pain that Putin and Russian officials are causing their LGBT communities with their new ban on “homosexual propaganda.” We recently chatted with Barbie Breakout, to help us find out just what spurred this video and how it’s affecting her life after being seen by hundreds of thousands of people world wide.
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Tell us a little bit about yourself and your drag.
My name is Barbie Breakout. I am 35 years old and I have been dressing up in women's clothing since I was 4 years old. I have a regular carreer - as a guy, that is - doing hair & makeup, and as a drag queen I mostly DJ around Europe and do shows. I am also a writer. I published my first book called "Tragisch, Aber Geil" (“Tragic, but Cool”) in December last year.
What finally drove you to want to make the "Open Your Mouth" video? Was there any one event or story that finally made you say "it's time"?
I was in Moskau (Moscow) two years ago, so I have heard some stories first hand. When I was doing some research on the internet I found horror stories that the media in Germany never covered. It was especially the stories about the Nazi groups ganging up to lure gays into situations in which they are taken hostage, humiliated, and brutally bullied on camera that made me want to do something. They do all that in the name of "anti-pedophilia," and Putin's laws have given them the perfect background. What they are doing to the gay community is horrifying, yet they don’t even need to be afraid of getting investigated by the state.
How did you come up with the concept for the video?
I wanted to do something that would definitely make people wake up and pay attention to what is going on there, and I wanted to express my feeling of helplessness. At the same time, I wanted to give them a voice to be heard worldwide. So the mouth and needle concept was born. For me it just seemed like the logical thing to do.
What has been the hardest part about making and publishing the video?
The hardest part in all of this was not the death threats. I knew I had to expect some of those. The hardest part was getting some negative backlash from my own community. Some people wrote stuff saying that I was just an attention whore trying to promote myself or my book, while they were sitting on their asses in front of Facebook and signing yet another petition….
My name is Barbie Breakout. I am 35 years old and I have been dressing up in women's clothing since I was 4 years old. I have a regular carreer - as a guy, that is - doing hair & makeup, and as a drag queen I mostly DJ around Europe and do shows. I am also a writer. I published my first book called "Tragisch, Aber Geil" (“Tragic, but Cool”) in December last year.
What finally drove you to want to make the "Open Your Mouth" video? Was there any one event or story that finally made you say "it's time"?
I was in Moskau (Moscow) two years ago, so I have heard some stories first hand. When I was doing some research on the internet I found horror stories that the media in Germany never covered. It was especially the stories about the Nazi groups ganging up to lure gays into situations in which they are taken hostage, humiliated, and brutally bullied on camera that made me want to do something. They do all that in the name of "anti-pedophilia," and Putin's laws have given them the perfect background. What they are doing to the gay community is horrifying, yet they don’t even need to be afraid of getting investigated by the state.
How did you come up with the concept for the video?
I wanted to do something that would definitely make people wake up and pay attention to what is going on there, and I wanted to express my feeling of helplessness. At the same time, I wanted to give them a voice to be heard worldwide. So the mouth and needle concept was born. For me it just seemed like the logical thing to do.
What has been the hardest part about making and publishing the video?
The hardest part in all of this was not the death threats. I knew I had to expect some of those. The hardest part was getting some negative backlash from my own community. Some people wrote stuff saying that I was just an attention whore trying to promote myself or my book, while they were sitting on their asses in front of Facebook and signing yet another petition….
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I read somewhere that your partner (and videographer) was unable to watch as you made the video. Has he watched it since then? What has his response been to all of this?
My partner has watched the video since then and he is proud of me. He might not agree with my methods and of course he doesn’t want to see me hurting myself, but he understands my idea and he was a witness to the effect it has had worldwide.
There's been a lot of concern about the safety of gay athletes who might participate in the Sochi Olympics. Many activists and civil rights groups have called for a boycott of the Games. What are your thoughts on that?
I don't think a boycott of the games is the right idea. Like with many other boycott ideas, it would hardly have the effect people were going for. I think all the athletes, gay or straight, should go and publicly demonstrate that they don't agree with Putin's homophobic policies. I know of some actions that WILL take place and I am excited to see how all that will turn out.
Is there anything you'd like to say to people who are directly affected by what's going on in Russia right now?
Everyone who suffers in Russia should know that we are doing what we can to help make things better. But homophobia has a LONG history in Russia. Being gay has only just been legalized in 1993. I think there are so many other beautiful countries in the world that do not discriminate against anyone because of their sexuality…. Maybe it's time to move….
Do you have any suggestions for people who want to do more to help the cause but may not know how?
I would always encourage people to get as much information online as they can. Our media doesn’t always cover what we want to know about. That's a good way to find out about projects you might be interested in as well. Maybe there is a Russian LGBTQI group in your community that could use your help for a project. If not, there is still a lot to be done supporting LGBTQI projects in Russia, such as the "Side by Side" Film Festival.
Other than making this video, have you used your drag to protest what's happening or show your support for Russia's LGBT community in any other ways? Do you plan to do so in the future?
I have always used my drag in many ways. even though I am not involved in a whole bunch of political discussions, I always open my mouth and speak up when I feel I have to. Drag always helps me elevate my voice and make sure people hear me. I will keep protesting against these homophobic laws in Russia and everywhere else in the world. We are organising a huge demonstration in Berlin on August 31st (www.enough-is-enough.eu) and I am also currently working on a couple of other projects.
My partner has watched the video since then and he is proud of me. He might not agree with my methods and of course he doesn’t want to see me hurting myself, but he understands my idea and he was a witness to the effect it has had worldwide.
There's been a lot of concern about the safety of gay athletes who might participate in the Sochi Olympics. Many activists and civil rights groups have called for a boycott of the Games. What are your thoughts on that?
I don't think a boycott of the games is the right idea. Like with many other boycott ideas, it would hardly have the effect people were going for. I think all the athletes, gay or straight, should go and publicly demonstrate that they don't agree with Putin's homophobic policies. I know of some actions that WILL take place and I am excited to see how all that will turn out.
Is there anything you'd like to say to people who are directly affected by what's going on in Russia right now?
Everyone who suffers in Russia should know that we are doing what we can to help make things better. But homophobia has a LONG history in Russia. Being gay has only just been legalized in 1993. I think there are so many other beautiful countries in the world that do not discriminate against anyone because of their sexuality…. Maybe it's time to move….
Do you have any suggestions for people who want to do more to help the cause but may not know how?
I would always encourage people to get as much information online as they can. Our media doesn’t always cover what we want to know about. That's a good way to find out about projects you might be interested in as well. Maybe there is a Russian LGBTQI group in your community that could use your help for a project. If not, there is still a lot to be done supporting LGBTQI projects in Russia, such as the "Side by Side" Film Festival.
Other than making this video, have you used your drag to protest what's happening or show your support for Russia's LGBT community in any other ways? Do you plan to do so in the future?
I have always used my drag in many ways. even though I am not involved in a whole bunch of political discussions, I always open my mouth and speak up when I feel I have to. Drag always helps me elevate my voice and make sure people hear me. I will keep protesting against these homophobic laws in Russia and everywhere else in the world. We are organising a huge demonstration in Berlin on August 31st (www.enough-is-enough.eu) and I am also currently working on a couple of other projects.
We wish Barbie Breakout the best of luck with all that she has planned for the future, and we look forward to seeing what new ways she will inspire people to open their mouths!
