‘Prison Break’ star Wentworth Miller comes out, condemns Russia’s anti-gay laws
“Prison Break” actor Wentworth Miller in 2008.
Actor and screenwriter Wentworth Miller, best known for his role in 'Prison Break,' came out as gay on Wednesday in a letter to the St Petersburg International film festival that condemned Russia's anti-gay laws.
In a letter posted on the website of the US-based Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Miller said he was "deeply troubled" by Russian laws that discriminate against homosexuals, and told the festival organizers that he would not be attending their event.
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"The situation is in no way acceptable, and I cannot in good conscience participate in a celebratory occasion hosted by a country where people like myself are being systematically denied their basic right to live and love openly," said Miller, noting that he has Russian ancestry and had enjoyed his previous visits there.
"Perhaps, when and if circumstances improve, I'll be free to make a different choice," he added.
Miller, 41, had not previously discussed his sexuality publicly.
A bill passed in June by the Russian parliament outlawed "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations among minors," meaning that those who organize gay pride events or express their support for same-sex relationships could find themselves in trouble. (Gay sex, however, is not illegal.)
Just six months before the start of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, gay and lesbian athletes and their supporters have publicly condemned the law, and some are considering boycotting the international sporting event.
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