First Lady Gaga and Madonna are being investigated by the Russian authorities for allegedly not securing the proper visas to enter the country and now Selena Gomez has been forced to cancel her concerts in Russia after the country denied her request for a visa over her pro-LGBT rights position.
Lady Gaga was so disgusted by the Russia’s actions that she wrote on her Twitter page, “The Russian government is criminal and “Oppression will be met with revolution. Russian LGBTs you are not alone. We will fight for your freedom.” Of course immediately after posting this “revolutionary” tweet Gaga went shopping at Bergdorf’s – so we don’t think Russians should be expecting Gaga to appear in their midst as the next Lenin any time soon.
According to gossipcop.com, Selena Gomez, had been scheduled to perform in St. Petersburg on September 23 and in Moscow on September 25.
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law the most oppressive anti-gay laws on the planet. The law bans anything considered pro-gay, gays holding hands in public to even wearing the rainbow colors. The law contains a provision permitting the government to arrest and detain gay or pro gay foreigners for up to 14 days prior to being expelled from the country. Selena count your blessings and be glad that you have been denied access to a county that is trying very hard to make discrimination look respectable. Why would you want to perform in a country that openly allows discrimination and ultimately violate our basic human rights?
Maybe all musicians, actors, actress, etc should take a stand and be deeply troubled by the current attitude toward and the treatment of LGBT people in Russia and in many other nations. In no way should anyone think this is acceptable for people to be denied their basic right to live and love. Of course many countries have strict anti-LGBT provisions in place – including the death penalty, such as Saudi Arabia and Iran. Countries where Sharia law applies do not in general offer their LGBT community any rights and persecute the LGBT community viciously. Russia and Putin make a point of advertising their anti-LGBT position but in fact that position is less severe than in many many other nations. Decent nations and people should not persecute anyone for their sexual preferences.
