Arts & Entertainment
Russian lawmaker urges ban on ‘Beauty and the Beast’ for ‘gay propoganda’
the film could be banned for LeFou’s sexuality
(Screenshot via YouTube.)
A Russian lawmaker wants to ban Disney’s live-action “Beauty and the Beast” remake because it features a gay character, the first in the history of Disney’s mainstream films.
Director Bill Condon announced that Gaston’s sidekick LeFou (Josh Gad) would have an “exclusively gay moment” in the film.
According to Russian news outlet Ria Novosti, State Duma deputy Vitaly Milon wrote a letter to Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky urging a ban on the film for “blatant, shameless propaganda of sin and perverted sexual relationships.” The ban would follow Russia’s “gay propaganda” law that prohibits media with that content from being shown to minors.
So far there has not been a ruling on the film, which opens in Russia on March 16.
In the U.S., one Alabama theater announced it would not screen the film because of the gay character. The Henagar Drive-In Theatre wrote in a since-deleted Facebook post that, “If we can not take our 11-year-old grand daughter and 8-year-old grandson to see a movie we have no business watching it. If I can’t sit through a movie with God or Jesus sitting by me then we have no business showing it.”
“Beauty and the Beast” opens in the U.S. on March 17.
The Capital Pride Alliance presented the 2026 Capital Pride Honors at “The Audacity Brunch: In Full Fuchsia” at the Four Seasons Hotel Washington, D.C. on Sunday, June 7.
(Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford)
Out & About
Congressional Cemetery hosts Gays & Graves
Daylong Pride celebration blends history, remembrance, art and community
Historic Congressional Cemetery will host the second annual “Gays & Graves: A Big Gay Festival” on Sunday, June 14 at 11 a.m.
The event will feature pioneering activist Randy Wicker, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, and new public art installations and programs celebrating LGBTQ+ history. Gays & Graves is an official partner event of Capital Pride 2026.
This event is a daylong Pride celebration blending history, remembrance, art and community. Visitors can shop from LGBTQ+ and allied artists and makers, experience performances and interactive installations, and engage with programs exploring LGBTQ+ history and lived experience.
For more details, visit the cemetery’s website.
Baltimore Pride is underway, taking place from June 8-14.
The Pride Parade will be on Saturday, June 13 at 12 p.m. at Charles Street & North Avenue, followed by the Pride Block Party at 1 p.m. at Druid Hill Park. And then the Pride Festival will be held on Sunday, June 14 at 12 p.m. at Druid Hill Park.
There will be an array of additional events including: a fashion show, a “Suits and Sneakers” reception and a 5k race, among many other events.
For more details, visit Baltimore Pride’s website.
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