ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, Nov. 4 (UPI) — An interactive memorial to late Apple Inc. founder Steve Jobs in St. Petersburg, Russia, was demolished after Apple’s current CEO announced he is gay.
The two-meter high replica of an iPhone 6, whose video monitor displayed speeches and highlights of Jobs’ life, stood outside a St. Petersburg College. It was installed in 2013 by the Russian business consortium ZEFS, or West European Financial Union, and was dismantled by the group after current Apple Inc. leader Tim Cook announced last week he is gay.
A ZEFS statement said it was required to abide by a 2013 Russian law outlawing “homosexual propaganda” directed at minors. The monument was in clear view of the students at the college.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who signed the legislation, has repeated insisted no discrimination against gay people exists in Russian law, but that the law is intended to “protect youth and traditional family values.”
ZEFS chairman Maxim Dolgopov added the removal of the monument was also prompted by “aggressive” spying on the part of the U.S. National Security Agency.
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