Singer Madonna has been summonsed to
appear in a Russian court for violating an anti-gay law in St.
Petersburg.
According to RT, activists suing
Madonna have obtained her New York City address and sent her a
summons to appear in court on October 25.
The suit was filed by nine anti-gay
activists who claim “moral damages” over Madonna's support for
gay rights during a Thursday, August 9 concert in St. Petersburg.
The petitioners are demanding
reparations from Madonna, the organizer of her concert and the
concert hall where she played. According to Ria Novosti,
petitioners claim “moral damages” stemming from “the open
promotion of homosexuality” and are asking for $10.5 million in
compensation.
Madonna openly defied city authorities
who had threatened to fine the pop star.
“We want to fight for the right to be
free,” she told the audience, most of whom were wearing pink
wristbands distributed at the door. Madonna urged them to “show
your love and appreciation to the gay community.”
“She insulted believers' feelings,
she promoted homosexuality when there were children at the concert
and this is forbidden in St. Petersburg,” Darya Dedova of the
pro-Kremlin group Trade Union of Russia Citizens, which backs the
suit, is quoted as saying. “We, the residents of the cultural
capital, suffered a colossal moral damage.”
An October 11 hearing was postponed
because plaintiffs could not notify the pop star.
Working against plaintiffs is the fact
that tickets cautioned against anyone under 18 from attending the
show. (A video report is embedded on this page. Visit
our video library for more videos.)