A photograph of Academy Award-winning actress Tilda Swinton defending Russia’s beleaguered lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community by holding a rainbow flag in front of Moscow’s Kremlin is going viral in the blogosphere.
The star, who nabbed an Oscar for “Michael Clayton” in 2007, reportedly released the following statement on the photograph via her spokesperson: “In solidarity. From Russia with love.”
Swinton’s bold move comes at a particularly critical time for Russia’s LGBT residents. Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a so-called “gay propaganda” bill into law which imposes large fines on residents who “provide information” about the LGBT community to minors, according to The Guardian. Similar laws had already taken effect in St. Petersburg and other cities.
Meanwhile, Putin also signed a law banning same-sex couples in foreign countries from adopting Russian children on July 3.
Other celebrities have courted controversy by speaking out in defense of Russia’s LGBT community in recent months, including pop superstars Madonna and Lady Gaga.
In more inspiring news, a float dedicated to LGBT residents in Russia and other former Soviet republics made a much-anticipated debut in New York’s Pride Parade on June 30.
Story from Huffington Post and GuySpy.com