Former “Prison Break” hunk and currently the screenwriter of the thriller “Stoker”, Wentworth Miller, had come out of his closet and openly acknowledged he is, indeed, gay. The 41-year-old actor had previously denied he is homosexual in a 2007 interview with an Australian-based press but it seems tighter times had called for tighter measures – in this case, his confession.

Declines Russian Invitation

In what is described by one showbiz news outlet as a “big F YOU” to the Russians, Miller declined to be the guest of honor of the St. Petersburg International Film Festival citing this reason for his refusal:

“Thank you for your kind invitation. As someone who has enjoyed visiting Russia in the past and can also claim a degree of Russian ancestry, it would make me happy to say yes. However, as a gay man, I must decline.”

He stated that the country’s current anti-gay propaganda laws are disturbing to him as a fellow homosexual. He is deeply disturbed at how the country sees and treats women and homosexuals in general and since it is a celebration he is supposed to go to, he cannot in any way participate since there is nothing celebratory about these characteristics; he cannot revel happily in a place where individuals like himself have no basic rights and cannot express their love and life publicly. However, he ended on a somewhat positive note saying that if circumstances change, he might just change his mind and come.

GLAAD Is Glad

Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) posted the letter, which is addressed to the festival’s organizers, on their website Wednesday. It is the actor’s first ever public confirmation about his sexuality and the LGBT organization spokesman and fellow actor, Wilson Cruz, is happy that he used his being gay to voice support against LGBT defamation in Russia. The organization lauded Miller’s bold positive backing towards LGBT Russians saying that his message shows these people they are not alone in the middle of the country’s anti-LGBT campaign. They are also hoping that more celebrities and organizations will step up, follow the actor’s lead and show support for the LGBT community in the mentioned country. Other stars who had a recent run-in against the country in regards to these issues were Lady Gaga and Madonna.

Gays and Russia

There has been much outcry against Russia’s recent strict laws, signed separately in June and July by Russian President Vladimir Putin, against LGBT orientation and same-sex couples. The said laws prohibit gay pride rallies, Russia-born children adoptions by same-sex couples and imposes fines on individuals who are believed to propagate non-traditional sexual relations among minors. Additionally, foreigners who are suspected of being gay can now be withheld a maximum of 15 days, a probation that has raised the hackles of the world since Russia will be hosting the 2014 Winter Olympics. However, a number of athletes who have come out as gays expressed that the said laws will not stop them from competing come 2014.