Journalist who uncovered Russian torture of gay men in shocking exposé, dies

Former BBC journalist, Liz MacKean, who broke the news of the shocking torture of gay men in Russia, has died.

She died at the age of 52 after a sudden stroke, reports the BBC.

MacKean worked on Channel 4’s Dispatches program, where she produced the groundbreaking documentary, Hunted.

In it, she goes behind the scenes to expose Russian people hunting gay men through hook-up apps.

‘There’s a hunting season,’ she told the BBC. ‘And gay men are the hunted.’

She continued: ‘There are gangs at work across Russia and probably the most violent of them is a group called Occupy Pedophilia.

‘As far as they’re concerned, there is no difference at all between a homosexual and a pedophilia. So using that blurred distinction as a justification, they go, as they say, on safari.

‘That involves using social media to lure gay men to apartments – perhaps the offer of a date – and these men are then assaulted,’ she said.

She then explained she was present while 13 people attacked and tortured a gay man.

She continued: ‘There’s a uniform atmosphere of oppression.’

Journalist Liz MacKean dies age 52Twitter

Journalist Liz MacKean and sister

MacKean also produced a documentary on the rise of Christian fundamentalist groups in America.

Hunted: Gay and Afraid looks into claims that US-based group the World Congress of Families uses its pro-family message to support anti-gay legislation in Russia, even lobbying the Slovakian government to pass new laws curtailing the rights of the gay community.

MacKean also broke news of disgraced DJ Jimmy Savile on sex abuse charges.

She also won Stonewall’s Journalist of the Year award in 2014.

Tributes pour in for Liz MacKean

BBC director of news James Harding paid tribute to MacKean, saying…

Read more from Source: Journalist who uncovered Russian torture of gay men in shocking exposé, dies

Share

About Gay Today

Editor of Gay Today