Selena Gomez Denied Russian Visa Due to Her Support of Gay Rights

According to Billboard Russian authorities have denied a visa request from pop singer Selena Gomez. The singer was to perform in Minsk, Belarus and Kiev, Ukraine and next week in St. Petersburg, but all of the performances have been removed from her intinerary.

Organizers of the tour believe that the visa denial is the result of Russia's new law banning "propaganda" promoting non-traditional sexual relationships. Gomez has openly supported gay rights, and joins fellow entertainers Madonna and Lady Gaga who have also been affected by the law.

Gomez's planned trip to Russia inspired gay rights activist John Becker to launch a Change.org petition urging the singer to "stand up for Russia's LGBT community" while touring the country. Since news of the concert cancellations, the petition has received more than 10,000 signatures

"The Russian government is clearly on edge and aware of the bruising its reputation has taken in the wake of their anti-LGBT crackdown," Becker writes on LGBTQ group blog Bilerico.com.

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