This country could ban 'Beauty and the Beast' for 'gay propaganda'

Beauty and the Beast will make history for featuring one of the first known LGBTQ characters in a Disney princess film, as revealed by director Bill Condon.

But in Russia the live-action film could be banned under the draconian "gay propaganda" law.

A Russian lawmaker, Vitaly Milonov, has sent a letter to culture minister Vladimir Medinsky urging him to take action against Disney's remake, calling it "a blatant, shameless propaganda of sin and perverted sexual relationships" under the guise "of children's fairy tales."

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The 2013 legislation, which has caused an outcry among human rights organisations and the international gay community, prohibits the spreading of "gay propaganda" among minors.

It also describes homosexuality as "non-traditional sexual relations."

The complaint, seen by state-owned Ria Novosti news agency, said the movie shouldn't be shown in Russia if the ministry found "elements of propaganda of homosexuality."

“I’m convinced that the main task of the state regarding children is the protection of childhood and youth from the dirt of the world, preserving children's purity, guard our children from the harmful and dangerous phenomena," it said. "And in this case, our shared task is to not allow the release of this musical on the screen under any guise.”

Medinsky told the BBC that they will consider the movie "according to the law" as soon as they obtain copies of the film with relevant paperwork for distribution.

In a sub-plot to the main story, Le Fou (Josh Gad), a sidekick of the film's main antagonist Gaston, has an "exclusive gay moment".