Mon 6 Mar 2017 In: International News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Russian authorities are seriously considering banning the latest Disney movie, a live-action version of Beauty and the Beast which features Disney's first ever gay character. Le Fou (r), played by Josh Gad, is attracted to Gaston, played by Luke Evans. A side-plot in the movie sees Le Fou, the sidekick to villain Gaston, fall in love with Gaston and struggle with his feelings of admiration and sexual attraction. Russia's culture minister, Vladimir Medinsky, says action will be taken if the movie contravenes Russia's internationally reviled anti-gay propaganda laws, while an MP has described the film as "shameless propaganda of sin". Homosexuality was decriminalised in Russia in 1993 but in the economically struggling country's swing to nationalism and social conservatism under president Vladimir Putin laws and by-laws have been passed making 'promotion' of homosexuality a criminal offense. Merely displaying a rainbow flag or discussing homosexuality can result in arrest. Beauty and the Beast, scheduled to open in Russia on March 16, stars Emma Watson, Ewan McGregor, Kevin Kline and Stanley Tucci. In another first for Disney the film features an interracial kiss. Meanwhile, an Alabama movie theatre is refusing to show the movie, saying the Disney company is using it to foist its views on the public. Its management say it will only show "wholesome" movies without "sex, nudity, homosexuality and foul language."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 6th March 2017 - 12:19pm