Russia likely to ban Disney's film Beauty and the Beast over 'gay moment'

London: Russia is mulling upon banning Disney`s `Beauty and the Beast` movie, due to a subplot in it showing a man discovering himself as gay.

The subplot in the movie shows a character, Josh Gad`s LeFou, discovering that he is gay.

Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky has ensured that checks will be carried out to ascertain that the movie does not oppose the country`s laws against "spreading gay propaganda among minors," the Telegraph quoted the BBC as saying.

An MP, Vitaly Milonov, has also called for a government screening of the movie a day before its official release, in order to let ministers decide whether to permit it for a general release.

The film`s director Bill Condon, last week, in an interview to a magazine revealed the movie`s `gay moment.`Beauty and the Beast, starring Emma Watson and Dan Stevens, is scheduled to release in the UK on March 17.