Lady Gaga defies anti-gay Russian law and speaks up for LGBT rights

Lady Gaga coronavirus one world: together at home

Lady Gaga faces legal issues with the authorities in Russia after allegedly promoting LGBT rights to minors during a concert in St Petersburg last Sunday.

Vitaly Milonov, a member of the ruling United Russia Party and who orchestrated the city’s law which bans gay ‘propaganda’, told Reuters: “We saw that in addition to music, songs and such, there were direct calls for 12-year-old citizens to support the LGBT community.”

Lady Gaga, who has long campaigned for LGBT rights in the US, used her first appearance in Russia to show her admiration for LGBT Russians.

Speaking through a translator from the stage, she called for respect for gay rights, saying: “Lady Gaga wants to say that she expects respect from others – she’s not here to offend anyone’s religion or faith, she’s here to unite us.”

Last month, Madonna was acquitted of breaking the same law by a St Petersburg court following her performance in the city earlier this summer.

It was after she spoke out against the ban on stage and handed out pink bracelets.

She also issued a message of support for the imprisoned feminist punk band Pussy Riot.

The pro-Kremlin group, Trade Union of Russian Citizens, wanted 333 million rubles (around $10 million, £ 6.18 million) from Madonna and from the company that organised her show.

 

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