‘Prison Break’ Star Comes Out In Response To Russian Anti-Gay Laws
Another week and another celebrity has come out as gay, this time in direct response to the controversial anti-gay laws in Russia.
"Prison Break" and "Resident Evil: Afterlife" star Wentworth Miller recently revealed himself to be gay in a written response to an invitation to attend the St. Petersburg International Film Festival,
August 21, 2013
Re: St. Petersburg International Film Festival / "Guest of Honor" Invitation
Dear Ms. Averbakh:
Thank you for your kind invitation. 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. 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.
Until then.
Wentworth Miller
Member, HRC
Member, GLAAD
Member, The ManKind Project
Miller is the latest celebrity to speak out against Russia's new anti-gay laws that bans any "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations" which includes teaching children about the LGBT community, holding gay pride rallies, and the adoption of Russian children by same-sex couples. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the measures into law almost two months ago in an attempt to promote traditional Russian values over the influence of Western Liberalism, something Putin and the Russian Orthodox Church believe is leading to corrupting in Russian youth and protests against Putin's administration.
Unfortunately, there's a great chance people will take Miller's coming out as a ploy to help his career as its been rather stagnant since "Prison Break" ended in 2009 and he appeared in "Resident Evil: Afterlife" the following year.