Sure she was fined a meager $150 for speaking out on behalf of Russia’s LGBT community by scrawling the words “No Fear” on her back during a concert in St. Petersburg, but Madonna may not be done paying for her sins if a group of anti-gay activists have their way. The Material Mom is being sued for $10 million for violating the city’s ban on “homosexual propaganda.”
That the popstar was even allowed in the city is surprising in itself since Madonna is basically walking/singing/gyrating homosexual propaganda, but we digress. Madonna had earlier called the law a “ridiculous atrocity” and so she clearly had no problem breaking it, despite prior warning.
“She had been warned with words that she should behave in line with the law and she ignored it. So we will speak in the language of money,” Darya Daveda, one of the 10 activists suing Madge, told The Guardian.
Homosexuality has been “legal” in Russia for less than 20 years, so the country’s stance on the gays is understandably ass-backwards less than progressive. Take for instance the comment made by another of the plaintiffs, Alexei Kolotkov:
“Maybe someone does not see the link but after Madonna’s concert maybe some boy becomes gay, some girl becomes lesbian, fewer children are born as a result and this big country cannot defend its borders – for me it causes moral suffering.”
Russia is in dire need of some education regarding homosexuality. Madonna doesn’t make people gay after all — she makes them super gay. It’s her lot in life that she bears, and often abuses, with aplomb. Of course, no amount of education may stop people from equating a Madonna concert with the downfall of civilization as they know it.
This lawsuit is yet another setback for the country’s LGBT community, as Moscow recently upheld a ban on pride parades for another 100 years while Pussy Riot was found guilty of “hooliganism” for speaking out on gay oppression.
Kev C
Maybe they shouldn’t ship their children into foreign prostitution. Can you imagine these russian degenerates trying to be moral and getting on their high horse? The most corrupt, perverted, drunken, drug addicted, backwards country in Europe/Asia has a problem with gays and free speech. Not even close.
fagburn
Betcha $10m this is a publicity stunt that won’t happen.
Charles
Madonna made her statement. I think that if I were in her position, I come back to the US and stay out of “Dodge”.
Gauthier
@Kev C: I agree. That place is a stinkhole of homophobia, xenophobia and misogyny.
Now, I have come to lose a lot of respect for Madonna over the last five years of her career, but mostly because of her artistic choices, not because I think she should ‘put it away’ as some people have been saying. But even if this is just a publicity stunt on her behalf, I can’t think it’s completely disingenuous because she has done a lot of good over her career and opened a lot of minds. And even if she didn’t give a hoot, I still think it’ll have a positive effect because of the negative publicity Russia will be getting for its homophobia.
fagburn
@Gauthier: I meant this was a publicity stunt by the “anti-gay activists”.
It’s the Westboro Baptist Church school of campaigning – release a press release saying you’re doing something outrageously homophobic, then after the world expresses its outrage, there’s no need to actually do it.
I’m sure her Madge was quite oblivious to it all.
Jenson
Madonna fans are all people in their 40s and 50s who rely on Aids medications to get throughout the day. Madonna is NO Lady Gaga. She is trying to copy her by pretending she is a gay rights activist.
She shouldn't have gone there in the first place
Well its a virulently anti-gay country and place. Probably shouldn’t have gone there. Probably shouldn’t go back.
To be honest, Madonna’s visit actually made it possible for the country to say “its ok to be gay in Russia and nothing bad really happens and people arent harassed, etc.” Well, she’s being harassed for supporting us. And her visit can no longer be justified to show that gay people and gay supportive people are treated ok in Russia.
She’ll never pay if the suit is allowed to continue. But Russia wont be able to pretend that they’re not discriminating or improperly threatening gay people either.
James
@Jenson:
Jenson your comment is so ridiculously uniformed, immature and vile that you should be embarrassed. It’s so sad that we want tolerance and acceptance from society but struggle with common decency for those within our own community and the allies that support us.
James
@James: @James:
*uninformed that is.
Incidentally, Bravo to Madonna!
freddie
Before Queerty so snarkily comments on how homosexuality has only been legal in Russia for 20 years, they should remember that it’s been less than 10 years since the last sodomy laws were removed in the “Land of the Free”
fagburn
@Jenson: Classy!
dab822
ok read the story and the comments. i think i will spend my energy and money dealing with the issue in the free world…even though the USA is only a step abouve Russia in corruption and hypocrisy