Legendary ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov has spoken out against Russia's "gay propaganda" law, joining a score of other celebrities to have denounced the legislation, including Madonna, Lady Gaga and Elton John.
The law, signed by President Vladimir Putin in July, imposes heavy fines on those convicted of promoting "non-traditional relations" toward minors. Foreigners can also be deported if found guilty of breaking the "gay propaganda" law.
"My life has been immensely enriched by gay mentors colleagues and friends and any discrimination and persecution of gay people is unacceptable," Baryshnikov said in a statement published by the No More Fear Foundation, a U.S.-based NGO for the protection of LGBT rights.
"Equal treatment of people is a basic right and it is sad that we still have to even speak about this in [the] 21st century," Baryshnikov said.
Baryshnikov achieved fame as one of the world's greatest dancers and, among the wider public, for his role as Carrie Bradshaw's lover in the romantic series "Sex and the City."
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