Russia urged to ban 'Beauty and the Beast' remake over gay 'propaganda'

 

 

 

Story highlights

 

• Russia's laws prohibit the spreading of "gay propaganda" among minors
• Director: LeFou character, sidekick to villainous Gaston, has an "exclusively gay moment" in film

Moscow (CNN)A Russian lawmaker has urged that country's government to ban Disney's new "Beauty and the Beast" remake after labeling it "a blatant, shameless propaganda of sin and perverted sexual relationships."

The complaint was detailed in a letter sent by Vitaly Milonov to the Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky and reported by state-run news agency Ria Novsti. It says the movie should not be shown in Russia if the ministry found "elements of propaganda of homosexuality."

The Ministry of Culture has not yet issued a ruling on the film, which stars Emma Watson and is scheduled to open in Russia March 16.

The movie is rated PG and is a live-action remake of the 1991 animated hit. Its director, Bill Condon, has said the character of LeFou, fawning sidekick to the villainous Gaston, has an "exclusively gay moment" in the film.

At the end of the film, there's a huge celebratory dance -- the kind where everyone's in a big circle and regularly changes partners. On one of these changes, LeFou finds himself paired with another man. They freeze, surprised, in their "embrace." The audience laughs and then the camera cuts away. That's it -- the moment is over in less than a second.