Madonna is never one to be out of the news. Now, she's walked right into a controversy again.

This time Madonna has decided to take on the Russians. Or rather, she's taking on President Vladimir Putin and the Russian Orthodox Church. She's got nerves of steel.

The singer has spoken out strongly against a new law in Russian city of St. Petersburg which bans anything that might be seen as promoting homosexuality. Activists are up in arms and point out that even though homosexuality was decriminalized in Russia in 1993, this law is a sign of the fact that there is still deep-rooted disdain and prejudice against homosexuals.

Madonna is due to perform in St. Petersburg this coming August. She's stated that she will show her dislike against such discrimination and speak up for the gay community when she visits.

The legislation was signed into a law on March 7th this year by Putin's strong ally Georgy Poltavchenko. St. Petersburg is the fourth Russian city to have brought in this law. The government insists that it's needed to protect minors from being influenced and from getting the false perception that traditional and nontraditional relationships are socially equal.

According to the new law a fine of USD16, 000 would be imposed on anyone who indulges in "propaganda" of homosexuality and pedophilia among minors. The law further claims that homosexual propaganda can prove damaging to the moral and spiritual development of those under 18 years of age.

Madonna has made her dislike as public as it gets. Her thoughts are written, loud and clear, on her facebook page, putting her on a warpath with the authorities in Russia. She says that she's a freedom fighter and that she "will come to St. Petersburg to speak up for the gay community, to support the gay community and to give strength and inspiration to anyone who is or feels oppressed. I don't run away from adversity. I will speak during my show about this ridiculous atrocity".

Gay rights activists in St Petersburg are said to be planning gay parades during Madonna's tour in August. Now the law could get in the way. There are concerns that this could be used to come down on such events. Also, the activists claim that the law is deliberately vague about what it perceives as "propaganda". Even before the law gay parades were not exactly welcomed in Russia. Earlier attempts to hold such parades have led to arrests in Moscow.

This is not the first time that Madonna has upset the Russians. The friction between her and the Orthodox authorities goes back a long way. The Russian Orthodox Church is the main religious body and it has never quite liked Madonna for her outrageous ways. Madonna held her first show in Moscow in 2006 and it was met with immense disapproval from the Orthodox Christians, who were offended because she used religious icons in her performance. It is unlikely that her cutting remarks, as well as her latest album, MDNA, in which men wearing figure hugging tights swoon all over her, would endear her to the Orthodox Russians either.

It's show time for Madonna. Again.