Wentworth Miller

Wentworth Miller

Wentworth Miller's former co-star is "very proud" of him for revealing he is gay.

Dominic Purcell, who played the 41-year-old actor's brother in 'Prison Break' from 2005 until 2009, has praised the British-born star for opening up about his sexuality for the first time this week as he took a stand against Russia's recent anti-gay legislation by refusing to attend the St. Petersburg International Film Festival.

The 43-year-old actor told UsMagazine.com: "As a friend and someone I care for deeply, I am very proud of Wentworth. I wish him much happiness and peace. I applaud his courage and his stance against a wrongful, archaic ideology."

Wentworth Miller

A number of celebrities, including Neil Patrick Harris and Ellen DeGeneres, also took to Twitter to show their support for Wentworth after he wrote a letter on Wednesday (21.08.13) to the organisers of the film festival stating he could not "in good conscience" attend the event because of the country's stance.

He wrote: "Thank you for your kind invitation. As someone who has enjoyed visiting Russia in the past and can also claim a degree of Russian ancestry, it would make me happy to say yes. However, as a gay man, I must decline.

"I am deeply troubled by the current attitude toward and treatment of gay men and women by the Russian government. The situation is in no way acceptable, and I cannot in good conscience participate in a celebratory occasion hosted by a country where people like myself are being systematically denied their basic right to live and love openly.

"Perhaps, when and if circumstances improve. I'll be free to make a different choice. Until then."