Original Material
Russian LGBT Network calls for boycott of censored ‘Rocketman’ as film opens in Russia without gay sex or drugs
The Russian LGBT Network called for a boycott of the Elton John biopic Rocketman as it was released in Russian theaters.
The film begins screening in Russia on June 6. Its release follows news that its distributor in Russia, Central Partnership, removed entire scenes that depicted gay sex and drug use even though the film still has an age rating of 18+. The company claimed that it made the changes to comply with Russian law, but the film’s creators and Elton John himself accused Central Partnership of censorship.
We do not know whether the decision to alter the film is the result of unconcealed homophobia on the part of the company’s leadership or whether the distributor decided to be overly cautious. Regardless, we consider what has happened to be an infuriating act of censorship. We believe that Central Partnership’s decision, regardless of its immediate causes, is a direct result of the passage of [Russia’s] “gay propaganda among minors” law and the subsequent homophobic policies of the Russian government.