Actor Wentworth Miller, most known for his role in the TV series, “Prison Break” recently came out of the closet identifying himself as a gay man in a letter that he wrote to the director of the St. Petersburg International Film Festival. The festival, which takes place in Russia, invited Miller as a guest of honor.
You can almost bet that this is the first of many protests against Russia’s new anti-gay laws. Last month Russia passed a law that prohibits the discussion of gay rights and gay relationships in public spaces.
According to the GLAAD website, Miller sent the following statement in a letter to the director of the St. Petersburg International Film Festival:
“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,” he continued. “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.”
Kudos to Wentworth Miller for taking a stand against something that he feels strongly about. Let’s see which celebrity will be the next to protest against Russia’s anti-gay laws.
