Wentworth Miller (best known for starring in the TV show Prison Break) came out today because he was offered an invitation to a film festival in St. Petersburg and Russia is not exactly cool with gay people right now, which is why he declined the invite. He wrote the festival director a letter fully explaining why. From GLAAD:
Dear Ms. Averbakh:
Thank you for your kind invitation. As someone who has enjoyed visiting Russia in the past and
can also claim a degree of Russian ancestry, it would make me happy to say yes.However, as a gay man, I must decline.
I am deeply troubled by the current attitude toward and treatment of gay men and women by
the Russian government. The situation is in no way acceptable, and I cannot in good conscience
participate in a celebratory occasion hosted by a country where people like myself are being
systematically denied their basic right to live and love openly.Perhaps, when and if circumstances improve, I’ll be free to make a different choice.
Until then.
Wentworth Miller
Boom. Succinct, polite, well put. 4 for you, Went Coco.
Vladimir Putin has been open about his persecution of gay people and those who support them. Here’s more from the NY Times, to get you up to speed:
Earlier this month, he signed a law banning the adoption of Russian-born children to gay couples and to any couple or single parent living in any country where marriage equality exists. Last month, Mr. Putin signed a law allowing the police to arrest tourists and foreigners suspected of being gay or pro-gay and detain them for up to 14 days. He also signed a bill classifying “homosexual” propaganda as pornography with vague wording that could subject anyone arguing for tolerance or educating children about homosexuality to arrest and fines.
Naturally, this isn’t helping the gay community and is only leading to more violence against them. Things are looking much brighter though in the USA, with legislations in favor of banning gay marriage being overturned. Raven Symone came out with an excited tweet about the new laws and Lily Tomlin revealed that she would likely marry her girlfriend of 42 years.