“The ultimate moment where I most felt like a rebel was in St. Petersburg, Russia [in 2012 during the MDNA Tour] when I was told they were going to arrest anyone who was openly or obviously gay and they came to my shows and I spoke out against the government.” MomentsShowsGovernmentFeltGayUltimateRussiaSpokesRebel Author:Madonna Ciccone
“I've got to think about what I'm going to say very carefully. There's two avenues of thought: Do you stop everyone going, ban all the artists coming in from Russia? But then you're really leaving the men and women who are gay and suffering under the antigay laws in an isolated situation. As a gay man, I can't leave those people on their own without going over there and supporting them. I don't know what's going to happen, but I've got to go.” PeopleThinkingKnowsMenI CanTwoHappensLawArtistSufferingSituationHe ManGayMen And WomenLeavingRussiaIsolatedAvenuesBansGay Men Author:Elton John
“It's not dissimilar to what we see with the president of Russia, who uses a minority there, the lesbian, gay, bisexual community ... and he goes after them with great relish because he knows that it's going to resonate with a part of the population.” KnowsUsePresidentCommunityGayPopulationRussiaMinoritiesRelishBisexual Author:Thomas Mulcair
“As a gay parent I must flee Russia or lose my children” ChildrenParentLosesGayRussiaMy ChildrenGay Parents Author:Masha Gessen
“Homosexuality in Russia is a crime and the punishment is seven years in prison, locked up with the other men. There is a three year waiting list.” MenYearsFunnyThreeWaitingComedyCrimeGayPrisonSevenListsRussiaPunishmentLgbtThree YearsLockedHomosexualityHomosexualSeven YearsLocked Up Author:Yakov Smirnoff