Selena Gomez Russian Visa Denied, Moscow Show Cancelled; Is The Government ‘Afraid’ Of Her Pro Gay Rights Views?

Selena Gomez's visa to enter Russia has been denied, meaning that her shows in St. Petersburg and Moscow are cancelled. Are her pro gay rights views to blame?

Selena Gomez was supposed to perform at St. Petersburg's Ice Palace on Sept. 23 and Moscow's Olimiisky stadium on Sept. 25, E! News reports, but had to cancel her gigs when her visa to Russia was denied.

According to E! News, organizers say Russia's new anti-gay law is one of the reasons for Gomez's visa rejection, since Russian authorities have been tightening travel restrictions for performers who speak out in favor of gay rights.

John Becker, who launched a petition on Change.org asking Gomez to stand up for Russia's LGBT crowd when she took the stage there, said that this visa rejection is actually a good sign for the gay community.

"This cancellation of Selena Gomez's visa shows that the Russian government is sensitive and on the defense, and shows that the pressure from people all around the world and the backlash against these laws is strong," Becker told E! News in a statement. "They're afraid to have someone like Selena Gomez come in and potentially use her platform to advance LGBT rights."

Becker's Change.org petition has so far gained more than 8,000 signatures.

Becker may be referring to Madonna and Lady Gaga's recent public announcements of support during their 2012 shows for Russia's LGBT community.

Following backlash from anti-gay politicians, the government threatened Madonna and Lady Gaga with potential prosecution for allegedly failing to obtain the appropriate visas to enter and perform in Russia, E! News writes.