News of increasingly anti-gay attitudes and problems emerging from Russia is emerging on a seemingly daily basis – the latest being reports that a gay teen kidnapped and tortured by neo-Nazis has died from his injuries. The issues have undoubtedly intensified with the signing of a law banning ‘promotion of non-traditional relationships’, which seems to have been taken by homophobes to mean it’s now open season on LGBT people.

Ian McKellen has now stepped forwards to express his solidarity with Russian LGBT people, showing his support in the photo above, which was taken after a performance of Harold Pinter’s No Man’s Land, which he is currently starring in at the Berkeley Rep in California, alongside friends and fellow X-Men star, Sir Patrick Stewart.

The pic was the result of a meeting with blogger Michael Petrelis, who says, ‘I went to the theater with a rainbow flag and four signs, hoping Sir Ian would be amenable to a photo-op, one that might send a clear message to the Russian LGBT people. He and I spoke briefly about the plight of LGBT citizens of Russia, and Sir Ian expressed his solidarity with them and deplored the escalating violence against our community over there.’

McKellen then posed for the pic above, expressing his support for gay Russians.

We can all hope that the situation for gay Russians improves quickly, and that perhaps with the international spotlight being shone on the issue and Russia due to host the Winter Olympics in a few months time (with some already agitating for a boycott over fears for LGBT athletes as the games), something can be done to improve the situation.