‘Brokeback Mountain’ blocked in Russia

Russia’s media watchdog, Roskomnadzor, has blocked several websites that hosted pirated copies of the 2005 Oscar-winning melodrama ‘Brokeback Mountain’, which centers on a love affair between two gay cowboys. 

The drama was directed by Ang Lee and stars late Academy Award-winning actor Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal. The film takes place in 1960s Wyoming and tells the story of two cowboys who become romantically involved. The movie has been described as the “first gay western” and won a number of awards upon its release in 2005, including Oscars for best director, best adapted screenplay, and best soundtrack. 

Following the adoption of a new Russian law banning LGBTQ propaganda, which introduced hefty fines for violations, Roskomnadzor published a list of films and TV series that should be prohibited in the country to comply with the new legislation.  

READ MORE: Russian deputy minister slams ‘gay nationalism’

’Brokeback Mountain’ was among the movies on the blacklist and was subsequently removed from all official video streaming services. 

Last year, the Supreme Court of Russia also outlawed the “international LGBT public movement” and designated it as an “extremist group,” accusing it of sowing “social and religious discord” in the country.  

In March, Russia’s Federal Financial Monitoring Service expanded its designation of persons and organizations deemed to be involved in extremist activities or terrorism to include the “LGBT movement” and its “structural units.” 

Russian President Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, has clarified that the authorities do not have any issues with what members of the gay community do in their personal lives, as long as they “don’t flaunt it” in public and do not involve children.

He has also spoken out against the promotion of “non-traditional sexual relations” as part of a drive to promote “family values” which began during his third presidential term in the early 2010s.