MOSCOW, October 3 - RAPSI. The Supreme Court has denied an appeal filed by LGBT rights activists of a St. Petersburg law banning the promotion of homosexual relations among minors, the court told the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI/rapsinews.com) Wednesday.

The court thus upheld the city court's judgment passed in May.

LGBT rights activists challenged the law, alleging that its wording is vague and contradicts federal legislation.

An LGBT advocate testified that the trial court failed to establish the detrimental effect of LGBT relations on society.

In the representative's view, "the idea of tolerance might be developed during childhood, and this concerns politics, religion, and sexual orientation."

St. Petersburg legislators and prosecutors claimed that the judgment is lawful and well-grounded, and thus should not be reversed.

The law imposing fines for "gay propaganda" took effect in St. Petersburg on March 30. It faced heavy criticism from the LGBT community and rights activists in Russia and abroad, but it has also been proposed to be made into a federal law. Any citizen who breaks the law in St. Petersburg may be subject to pay a fine for an administrative violation.

LGBT activists claimed that the law contradicts federal legislation, as "any mention of homosexual relations in public may be regarded as an administrative violation."