Gay banner removed from Pride DVD cover in US

The top image and text shows the US DVD cover. The bottom picture is the original promotional image.

CBS Films has said it will look into why references to homosexuality were removed from the DVD cover of the US release of British film Pride.

The film, about a group of gay and lesbian activists who supported striking miners in the 1980s, was released in the UK last year.

Pink News found the DVD cover wording had changed, removing a reference to "gay and lesbian activists".

A lesbian and gay banner was also removed from the back cover.

The film's synopsis on the back of the US DVD was also changed from referring to "a London-based group of gay and lesbian activists" to "a group of London-based activists".

The banner which was removed had read "Lesbians & Gays Support The Miners".

CBS Films, which released the DVD alongside Sony Pictures, told Pink News: "We're looking into this now and our page for the film remains the same as it has for months."

Ben Roberts, director of the BFI film fund, which backed Pride, said: "I'm not surprised that the US distributors have taken a decision to sell more copies by watering down the gay content. I'm not defending it, it's wrong and outmoded, but I'm not surprised.

"It's an unfortunate commercial reality both here and in the US that distributors have to deal with and consider in getting films onto the shop shelf. LGBT material is largely marginalised outside of rare hits like Brokeback Mountain."

The DVD was released by the US on 23 December and is scheduled for release in the UK in March.

Pride was named best film at the British Independent Film Awards last month.

It collected three awards in total, with Andrew Scott and Imelda Staunton picking up the best supporting actor and actress prizes for their roles in the film.

Writer Stephen Beresford joked at the awards: "It took 20 years to convince anyone that a film about vegan lesbian activists was a sure-fire hit."

The critically-acclaimed film received standing ovations at both its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May and at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.