I don't know about tankies, or soviets, but I used to know a russian-american, who was born after the fall of the soviet union, who was born in America, but raised by his soviet era russian parents.

He didn't make any qualms about it. He just hated gay people. He would come to my apartment, in Lakewood Ohio, second gayest cityin America, and out of nowhere he'd go off on an anti-gay agenda that was probably originally a joe rogan podcast.

He always got angry that I never agreed with him. I tried to let him be a better person. I tried to let him grow. I invited gay people over so he could mingle in a non-romantic setting, just to see that gay people aren't your enemy.

He did not grow. He stayed quiet all night. And then left halfway through the show we were watching. He was happy to talk shit about gay people in my presense, knowing I'M not gay, but he also assumed I'm full of hate like he is. He was not so thrilled to try to spew his anti-gay agenda to an actual gay couple.

After he left, even though he hadn't said much the hour or so he was here, Tom says "So that russian guy.....he hates gay people, doesn't he?" I said "Yep". And Tom says "And you were trying to show him there's nothing to hate" I said "Yep". Then he told me he appriciates me thinking of him and Jack as good people who would break mental stigma of hate, but also not to ever invite them to hang out with someone who hates gay people. I said ok, and then he said "He didn't do anything, but from our viewpoint, he could have just as easily pulled a gun, or a knife. You never know what someone full of hate will do when you're alone."

I never would have thought of that. I know my (now former) friend isn't violent, but they don't. So I can see where they're coming from.

But if you asked my former friend why soviets imprisoning gay people was a good thing, he'd likely say "Because they ainxt natural, what they're doing. It's immoral, and gross."

I'm not agreeing with him, but you wanted to know what they'd say. These are the types of answers I heard.

It's generally "WHATABOUT" games.

That would be stupid. Who says that?

World was fucked back then. Western world was still forcibly castrating gay men and only in the past 20 years started to even allow gay marriage.

Cuba has made huge strides on this. The GDR (East Germany) was making big changes on this in the late 80's. I'm sure if the USSR survived it would have too but who knows.