LABOUR MP Sian James has condemned the decision to remove all gay and lesbian references from the United States DVD cover of the critically acclaimed film Pride.

In an interview published today in the Star, Ms James criticises the marketing for the movie which tells the story of solidarity between miners and lesbian and gay socialists.

The original poster showed members of Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM) marching past Parliament with a banner bearing their group’s name.

But the banner was edited out of the scene for the cover of DVDs released in the US earlier this month.

Director Matthew Warchus defended the decision last week on BBC Radio, calling it clumsy but valid.

“I think someone in the marketing department in the US used their marketing judgement to try to remove any barrier to the widest possible audience,” he added.

But Ms James, played in Pride by Jessica Gunning, told the Star: “I just think it was bad judgement full stop.”

She has received fan mail from all over the world — including the US — since she was portrayed in Pride, which received three Bafta nominations last week.

She also spoke to the Hollywood press about the story behind the film when she travelled to the Toronto film festival.

“It was a silly thing to do because the sort of response the American public have given it has been absolutely fantastic,” she said.

“I think that was creating problem where there wasn’t one.