An inside look at Sochi's vibrant gay culture

On Monday, Sochi Mayor Anatoly Pakhamov told the BBC that "we do not have [gay people] in our city." Obtuse, yes. But it's also in line with the Kremlin's distinct anti-gay stance, which has become an increasingly contentious issue in the run-up to next month's Olympics.

Considering the mayor's opinions on the matter, it's pretty easy to see why he hasn't received an invitation to Mayak, one of Sochi's two gay clubs. But had he gone to the cabaret, he might have seen how very vibrant the city's gay culture is.

To give you a taste of what Mayor Pakhamov is missing out on, here's an inside look at Sochi's vibrant gay culture.