Madonna Sued for Defending Gay Rights at Russian Concert

:Last week, Madonna delivered
a fiery speech that supports
gay rights amid violence
threats to her concert in
Russia. Some Russian activists
have launched a millions-of-
dollars lawsuit against her,
claiming they were offended
by her support for gay rights
during the August 9 concert in
St. Petersburg.
Madonna was crossing the law
passed by Russian government
in February that makes it
illegal to promote
homosexuality to minors.
During her concert which was
attended by children as young as 12, she said, "The gay
community here, and all around the world, have the same
rights, to be treated with dignity, with respect, with
tolerance, with compassion, with love."
Alexander Pochuyev, a lawyer representing the nine
activists, said the lawsuit was filed on Friday, August 17,
naming Madonna, the concert organizer and the venue, SKK
Peterburgsky, as defendants. They were asking for damages
totaling 333 million rubles aka $10.5 million.
Pochuyev also said they were using modern method to
defend their rights despite the accusation that they live in
Middle Ages for banning gay rights. "No one is burning
anyone at the stake or carrying out an Inquisition. Modern
civilization requires tolerance and respect for different
values," the lawyer argued.:::::