Obama to meet with Russian gay rights advocates

The issue of Russian gay rights draws protesters this week at the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in Madrid.

President Barack Obama is set to meet with leaders of several Russian social activist groups Friday, an event likely to touch on the sensitive subject of gay rights in the nation amid tensions over Syria.

Earlier this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law passed by parliament that bans the public discussion of gay rights and relationships where children might hear it. Violators can be fined and, if they are foreigners, deported.