Russia may ban gay emojis because...

State authorities have launched an investigation after Russian senator Mikhail Marchenko complained they promote 'non-traditional sexual relationships'.

A law passed in 2013 banned the 'propaganda' of material that supported same-sex marriage and homosexuality, which covers websites.

The country's Izvestia newspaper said Mr Marchenko said gay emojis - including ones that showed children with same sex parents - 'denied family values' and 'disrespect for parents and other family members.'

The BBC reports that following his complaint, the media watchdog Roskomnadzor has asked the Young Guard - the youth group of President Vladimir Putin's political party - to investigate.

The group's spokesman Kirill Grinchenko told Izvestia that they had not yet received a request to look into the matter but was 'ready to deal with the protection of rights on the Internet under Russian law.' 

Amnesty International said the laws brought in 2013 target basic human rights, which see LGBT activists 'gagged' and restricts the community from seeking equal rights. The country also banned Gay Pride in Moscow for 100 years in 2012.

The introduction of the laws sparked protests around the world, including London.  

Emojis of gay couples were first added to IPhones by Apple three years ago, and earlier this year more were included, 

Apple first added emojis depicting gay couples to its operating system back in 2012. An update earlier this year introduced emojis showing gay couples with children, and hugely increased the racial diversity among the 300 symbols available 

(dailymail.co.uk)