Russian Court Throws Out Lawsuit Against Madonna's 'Promotion of Homosexuality'
A Russian court dismissed on Thursday, Nov. 22, a multi-million dollar lawsuit against pop star Madonna, who was accused of promoting "homosexual propaganda" to minors during her Aug. 9 concert in Moscow.
Although the St. Petersburg District Court dropped the Trade Union of Russian Citizens' lawsuit against Madonna, plaintiff Darya Dedova argued in a testimony Thursday that it is important for Russia to maintain its traditional values.
"Who will children grow up to be if they hear about the equal rights of the lesbian lobby and manly love with traditional sexual relations?'' Dedova testified Thursday, as reported by The Associated Press.
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''The death rate prevails over the birth rate in the West; young guys are becoming gender neutral," she warned.
''We aren't against homosexual people, but we are against the propaganda of perversion among minors,'' Dedova continued. ''We want to defend the values of a traditional family, which are currently in crisis in this country. Madonna violated our laws and she should be punished."
The basis of the lawsuit filed against Madonna was in relation to a February 2012 Russian law which prohibits the promotion of homosexuality to minors.
At her August concert, Madonna told the massive crowd, which included children as young as 12-year-old, to "show your love and appreciation to the gay community. We want to fight for the right to be free."
The pro-traditional marriage group Trade Union of Russian Citizens then sued Madonna based on "moral damages," requesting 333 million rubles ($10.7 million) in fines.
According to Reuters, District Judge Vitaly Barkovsky did not explain why he chose to throw out the case, but did rule that the Trade Union of Russian Citizens pays legal fees to the companies that organized the August concert.
The activist organization is reportedly appealing Thursday's ruling.
Russian society remains conservative on issues such as homosexuality, and although homosexual acts were decriminalized in 1993, they are not outwardly approved of or supported in mainstream society.
