No stranger to controversy, Madonna used her Thursday night performance in St. Petersburg, Russia, to speak out against the city’s homosexual “propaganda” law.
The law, effective since March, imposes fines for spreading homosexual “propaganda” that might “damage the health, moral and spiritual development” of minors. The law is being used as a model for proposed national legislation.
Bucking calls to cancel her performance, the pop star used the event to speak out on behalf of the LGBT community. Pink wristbands were distributed at the door, meant to “show your love and appreciation to the gay community.” “We want to fight for the right to be free,” she said.
St. Petersburg police chief Sergei Umnov says 74 people have already been fined under the city’s law.
