Beauty and the Beast lands 16+ rating in Russia

Children under age 16 won't be able to go to the new Disney film Beauty and the Beastin Russia because it includes a gay character, the Russian Culture Ministry said Tuesday.

The ministry told The Associated Press in an emailed statement that its decision for the 16-plus rating followed petitions by lawmaker Vitaly Milonov, known for his ultraconservative views, petitioned for the live-action film to be banned.

• Disney's Beauty and the Beast under attack and it's not even out yet

In a letter released Saturday by the RIA Novosti news agency, Milonov protested the screening of a movie that disseminates "overt and shameless propaganda of sin and sexual perversion under the guise of a fairy tale."

Milonov, who was elected to the State Duma last year, is a former local lawmaker in St. Petersburg who has built his political career on opposing LGBT rights.

Russian law based on Milonov bill

In 2013, Russia passed a federal law banning "gay propaganda" among minors. It was worded vaguely so it can be applied in a wide range of circumstances, for example, making it easy to target gay and lesbian teachers in Russia because they work directly with children. The law was modelled on a St. Petersburg bill that Milonov authored a year earlier

The film's brief scene in question involves the character of LeFou (Josh Gad), the timid and lovable sidekick to the preening villain Gaston (Luke Evans).

At the film's March 2 premiere in Los Angeles, director Bill Condon suggested that describing LeFou as Disney's first gay character went too far.

"I keep saying it's more like the first gay moment," he said. "Because I think it's a very fluid character."

The director added: "You can't help but wonder in his adoration of Gaston ... [is there]something more going on?"

One Alabama drive-in theatre has cancelled plans to show the film, which opens next week and stars Emma Watson as Belle.

Watson herself has sparked controversy for a Vogue magazine cover story and photo spread, timed to the film's release, that includes an image of her in a designer outfit that reveals part of her breasts.