Premium Content:

Madonna Slams Putin's "Intolerance of Gay Rights"

Madonna

At a recent Amnesty International Concert, Madonna made a speech condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attitude towards human rights.

- Advertisement -

When introducing the band Pussy Riot, she said that Putin’s regime showed “blatant intolerance of gay rights, artistic freedom, freedom of speech, and human rights in general.”

She also discussed Pussy Riot’s arrest, which occurred after the band performed an anti-Putin protest song. “I was shocked and outraged when I heard about this, and I spoke about it openly on stage [in Moscow] during my show.

“For this I received several death threats.

“From there we went to St Petersburg. My show was being damned by the regime for being a ‘gay show’, and for ‘promoting homosexuality’. All the people working on my show were told that we may be arrested.

“I was not arrested, but 87 of my fans were arrested for gay behaviour — whatever that means.

“What I realised when I went to Russia, and saw what was going on with Pussy Riot, and what was going on with the gay community, was how lucky I was and am to live in a country where I can speak my mind.

“It’s time for the rest of the world to be as brave as Pussy Riot, to stand up against people like President Putin that do not respect human rights, and perpetuate oppression, discrimination, and injustice of any kind.

“We all have a moral obligation to stand up for anyone who’s being persecuted, whether it’s down the street from us, or on the other side of the world.”

Latest

On This Gay Day | Author and intellectual Gore Vidal died in 2012

He was a prolific author and social commentator.

Dolly Parton’s musical comedy ‘Here You Come Again’ is coming to Perth

A joyous new musical comedy featuring the hits of the legendary Dolly Parton is coming to Perth audiences this August.

WA documentary ‘POINTE’ tells powerful story of healing through dance

A new documentary from Dawn Jackson tells the captivating, shocking story of acclaimed WA dancer Floeur Alder.

Long-acting injectable PrEP available through Compassionate Access Program

This long-acting injectable form of pre-exposure prophylaxis - Apretude - offers an alternative to daily oral pills.

Newsletter

Don't miss

On This Gay Day | Author and intellectual Gore Vidal died in 2012

He was a prolific author and social commentator.

Dolly Parton’s musical comedy ‘Here You Come Again’ is coming to Perth

A joyous new musical comedy featuring the hits of the legendary Dolly Parton is coming to Perth audiences this August.

WA documentary ‘POINTE’ tells powerful story of healing through dance

A new documentary from Dawn Jackson tells the captivating, shocking story of acclaimed WA dancer Floeur Alder.

Long-acting injectable PrEP available through Compassionate Access Program

This long-acting injectable form of pre-exposure prophylaxis - Apretude - offers an alternative to daily oral pills.

On This Gay Day | In 1981 a newspaper revealed Martina Navratilova was a lesbian

Navratilova won 59 Grand Slam titles across the singles and doubles categories in a career that spanned the 1970s and 1980s.

On This Gay Day | Author and intellectual Gore Vidal died in 2012

He was a prolific author and social commentator.

Dolly Parton’s musical comedy ‘Here You Come Again’ is coming to Perth

A joyous new musical comedy featuring the hits of the legendary Dolly Parton is coming to Perth audiences this August.

WA documentary ‘POINTE’ tells powerful story of healing through dance

A new documentary from Dawn Jackson tells the captivating, shocking story of acclaimed WA dancer Floeur Alder.