Ikea Spikes Article on Lesbian Couple in Russia

A spokesperson said Ikea made the decision because of Russian 'restrictions regarding promoting homosexual relationships'

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Ikea said Wednesday that it removed an article about a lesbian couple from the Russian edition of its consumer magazine because of anti-gay “propaganda” laws in the country.

The article, about the couple living with their child in London, appeared in the December edition of the Swedish furniture retailer’s club magazine that is available to customers in 25 markets worldwide, the Associated Press reports. Russia has come under fire ahead of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi for its record on gay rights, including a recent law that bans “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations.”

Ikea, which faced criticism last year for removing images of women from the Saudi version of a furniture catalog, spiked the story in Russia following advice from legal experts, spokesperson Yiva Magnusson said.

[AP]