Evangelists Billy (left) and his son Franklin Graham, who is also an outspoken homophobe. Photo: Shutterstock

Evangelists Billy (left) and his son Franklin Graham, who is also an outspoken homophobe. Photo: Shutterstock

Evangelist Franklin Graham is praising Russian President Vladimir Putin for his aggressive crackdown on homosexuality, saying his record on protecting children from gay “propaganda” is better than President Obama’s “shameful” embrace of gay rights.

Graham, who now heads the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association started by his famous father, praises Putin in the March issue of the group’s Decision magazine for signing a bill that imposes fines for adults who promote “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations to minors.”

The Russian law came under heavy criticism from gay rights activists, and from Obama, ahead of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. In response, Obama included three openly gay athletes as part of the official U.S. delegation to Sochi.