'We're not hidg': Gay and lbian Rsians say a cultural shift is unrway

APPLE BLOCKS THE GAY PRI WATCH FACE RSIA

Today, on Internatnal Day Agast Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT), Apple buts a new Apple Watch Pri Edn band and dynamic watch face, both of which rporate a broar set of lors spired by multiple Pri flags that have reprented the diverse LGBTQ+ muny throughout s rich history. Every June, Pri Month celebrat lbian, gay, bisexual and transgenr pri, promotg digny, equaly and creased visibily of LGBTQ people. Comg soon to @apple on Instagram, the seri will feature works om photographers Ryan McGley at Stonewall Inn New York; Evan Benally Atwood at Wdow Rock Arizona; Meke Kle at The Homomonument Amsterdam; Caia Ramalho at Plista Avenue São Plo; Lydia Metral at Plaza Chue Madrid; and Collier Schorr at Harvey Milk Plaza San Francis, featurg Baobei.

May 17 is known for beg the Internatnal Day Agast Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia — and sce 2016, Apple has been celebratg this date wh some special mpaigns.

APPLE IS BLOCKG S GAY PRI WATCH FACE RSIA

The big picture: Rsia ntu to heavily discrimate agast the LGBT muny, and Apple has quietly plied and blocked s rabow Gay Pri watch face for any Apple Watch lked to an iPhone wh s lole Rsia. It's very likely this is a rult of Rsia's 2013 'gay propaganda' law - a law which has seen all LGBTQ paras, art, speech and general support pletely prohibed the untry the name of protectg young generatns om 'propaganda regardg sexual relatns'.

This particular law vlat human rights regardg eedom of speech and exprsn and while the European Court of Human Rights led that enurag discrimatn, prejudice and homophobia, ltle has been done on an ternatnal ont. This year is no exceptn, as Apple troduc a new Apple Watch Pri Edn band and a dynamic watch face on Internatnal Day Agast Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia. The matchg pri watch band is also not sold origally distributed pri watch bands to employe 2016 celebratn of San Francis's pri para, which openly gay Apple CEO Tim Cook participated , reports Mashable.

APPLE BLOCKS S GAY PRI WATCH FACE RSIAAPPLE BLOCKS S GAY PRI WATCH FACE RSIA

The self-censorg of the gay pri watch face on the Apple Watch is a shockg disvery nsirg how big a supporter Apple is of LGBTQ rights. ”Rsia has passed strict “gay propaganda” laws sce 2013, makg actns like supportg LGBTQ rights punishable by jail time. Inspired by the rabow flag, ’s signed to celebrate gay pri and stand agast discrimatn to LGBTQ people.

While Apple regularly touts s “unwaverg mment to equaly and diversy” highly-produced gay pri vios, the pany has s lims. Rsian’s laws are likely to blameRsia implemented a “gay propaganda” law 2013, which the European Court of Human Rights led rerc prejudice and enurag homophobia.