Russian Lawmaker to Madonna: Keep Your Pants On

A lawmaker in St. Petersburg has a message for Madonna: keep your pants on. Literally.
City councilman Vitaly Miranov warned the pop star not to step out of line during her upcoming concert there on Aug. 9.
'We are warning the organizers of her concert to make it as decent as possible. Otherwise we will use the harsh laws against them. I heard that during the concerts of this tour she has taken off her pants. We do not need that here,' Milanov said, according to Russia’s Interfax news agency.
The Material Girl caught Miranov’s ire earlier this year after she vowed to speak out from the stage against a harsh new anti-gay law which would make it a crime to discuss homosexuality around minors. He threatened to fine her if she did and said in March that he would was willing to 'personally suffer' through her concert in order 'to control its moral content.'
The so-called 'gay gag rule,' which Miranov proposed, would impose hefty fines up to $16,700 on violators. A similar law was later approved at a national level. The laws’ supporters say it’s meant to protect children from gay 'propoganda,' but opponents say it’s just the latest in a string of efforts to discriminate against gay, lesbian, and transgender people.
Madonna is not the only famous musician standing up for gay rights in the region.
On Saturday Elton John begged Ukrainian authorities to stop a recent pattern of violence against gay activist leaders.
'I plead with you. Stop the violence against gay people,' he said during a pause in his act, which headlined a concert ahead of the EuroCup soccer tournament final, which was held in Kiev.
Lady Gaga has also repeatedly spoken out against the treatment of homosexuals in Russia.
Homosexuality was banned in the Soviet Union and was only decriminalized in 1993, though it was still declared a mental disorder until 1999. It remains highly taboo in Russia.

From Nation / ABC News

Comments

[Byron]

Who exactly is going to report them for speaking about homosexuality? The minors?

[Gilbert U.]

I think a much more appropriate headline would be:

Madonna to Russian Lawmaker: Keep Your Hard On Down

He threatened to fine her if she did and said in March that he would was willing to 'personally suffer' through her concert in order 'to control its moral content.' - - - - - In other words he was willing to personally suffer not yanking IT OUT and relieving himself if she does drop her pants. LMAO

[george t]

And this is why Russia will always be a third rate country----always!

[Faruhs Matkasimovs]

Lol what does gay propaganda has to do with Madonna taking her pants off? :D

[scubi92]

I hope she'll show up naked.

[Miguel]

LOL, the councilman can't stand the sight of a naked woman. That says a lot about him :)

[lou2865]

most men would sooner start a war and kill than to even suggest that they love, even each other. Sad. and this is 2012. yikes.

[rick]

This reminds me the episode with the Toronto´s police during The Blond Ambition Tour

[Kevin T]

Do you think madonna cares if she gets fine 17,000 when she's gonna make at least 3,000,000 from that one show. Tell him to sit down and shut up

[Miguel]

He said "I heard that during the concerts of this tour she has taken off her pants", so they haven't even seen the show, they don't know exactly what she does, so they better define what do they understand for "taking her pants off", because I don't think she takes her pants off, she just plays with her pants a little bit but she doesn't take them off. These ignorant people who talk before knowing the facts are so annoying. And even if she does take off her pants, she's not making people watch her against their will, people are paying to watch her doing her thing, they don't have any right to control what people want to watch or not.
I feel very bad for the youth who have to grow up in that country, it's like living in the dark age.It's so sad.

[george t]

Here's a word for the Russian government: SCREW OFF! IF you don't want her there then you shouldn't have invited her there. It's no wonder Russia is a shadow of itself!

[Moscow guy]

unfortunately the majority of russian government members are intolerant. both men and women.

[Moscow guy]

his real surname is Milonov- other way is a spelling error.

[vanka]

How can a man as intolerant as him could have a powerful position in the russian goverment? That's very dangerous. I feel very sorry for the russian gay community :(