Madonna could face a fine of 5,000
rubles if she defies St. Petersburg's recently enacted gay propaganda
law when she performs in the Russian city this summer, an official
has warned.
Earlier this week, Madonna stated that
she would defy the ban.
“I will come to St. Petersburg to
speak up for the gay community and to give strength and inspiration
to anyone who is or feels oppressed,” she wrote on her Facebook
page. “I'm a freedom fighter.”
The law, which took effect earlier this
month, criminalizes “public actions aimed at propaganda of
pederasty, lesbianism, bisexuality and transgenderism among minors”
and effectively outlaws Gay Pride parades and gay rights
demonstrations.
“I don't run away from adversity,”
Madonna added. “I will speak during my show about this ridiculous
atrocity.”
St. Petersburg Assemblymember Vitaly
Milonov, the bill's author, reportedly
told the Interfax news agency that the gay icon would be punished
if she violated the law.
“If Madonna or one of the organizers
of the concert breaks the city law, they will be punished,” Milonov
said, adding that he would personally attend Madonna's performance to
“monitor the moral content of the concert.”
The 5,000 rubles fine translates to
roughly $170.