Tilda Swinton stands up for Russian gay rights

Actress Tilda Swinton has shown her support for Russia's gay rights community by waving a rainbow flag in Moscow.

The Oscar winner headed to the Moscow Kremlin, home of President Vladimir Putin, and defiantly held up the colourful flag, widely used as a symbol of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) pride.

A photograph of her bold move, posted online on Independence Day (04Jul13), depicts Swinton posing proudly in front of both the Kremlin and a police car.

Her agent Christian Hodell, who shared the image via Twitter.com, also released a message from the star stating, "In solidarity. From Russia with love."

Government officials in the traditional country passed a bill last month (Jun13) banning "gay propaganda", and dozens of gay rights activists were arrested for violating the law at a rally in St. Petersburg on 29 June (13).