Russia’s media watchdog, Roskomnadzor, has blocked several websites that hosted pirated copies of the 2005 Oscar-winning melodrama ‘Brokeback Mountain’, which centers on a love affair between two gay cowboys.
The drama was directed by Ang Lee and stars late Academy Award-winning actor Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal. The film takes place in 1960s Wyoming and tells the story of two cowboys who become romantically involved. The movie has been described as the “first gay western” and won a number of awards upon its release in 2005, including Oscars for best director, best adapted screenplay, and best soundtrack.
Following the adoption of a new law banning LGBTQ propaganda in Russia, which introduced hefty fines for violations, Roskomnadzor published a list of films and TV series that should be prohibited in the country to comply with the new legislation.