Sir Elton John slams Vladimir Putin for saying Russia has ‘no problems’ with gay people
Elton John has called the Russian president a hypocrite (Getty Images)
Sir Elton John has slammed Vladimir Putin, accusing him of “hypocrisy” over his claims that Russia has “no problems” with LGBT+ people.
Writing on social media Sir Elton said, “I strongly disagree with your view that pursuing policies that embrace multicultural and sexual diversity are obsolete in our societies.”
He said he was “deeply upset” by the remarks made by the Russian president in an interview with the Financial Times.
In the interview, published on Friday, Mr Putin said of the LGBT+ community, “God forbid, let them live as they wish.”
Putin gave an interview to the Financial Times last week (Getty Images)
But added, “Some things do appear excessive to us… They claim now that children can play five or six gender roles.
God forbid, let them live as they wish
“Let everyone be happy, we have no problem with that. But this must not be allowed to overshadow the culture, traditions and traditional family values of millions of people making up the core population.”
He continued, “I am not trying to insult anyone, because we have been condemned for our alleged homophobia as it is. But we have no problems with LGBT persons.”
Elton John penned an open letter to the Putin (Ian Gavan/Getty Images for Harlequins)
Read Sir Elton’s full post below
Dear President Putin,
I was deeply upset when I read your recent interview in the Financial Times. I strongly disagree with your view that pursuing policies that embrace multicultural and sexual diversity are obsolete in our societies.
I find duplicity in your comment that you want LGBT people to “be happy” and that “we have no problem in that”.
Yet Russian distributors chose to heavily censor my film “Rocketman” by removing all references to my finding true happiness through my 25 year relationship with David and the raising of my two beautiful sons. This feels like hypocrisy to me.
I am proud to live in a part of the world where our governments have evolved to recognise the universal human right to love whoever we want. And I’m truly grateful for the advancement in government policies that have allowed and legally supported my marriage to David. This has brought us both tremendous comfort and happiness.
Respectfully,
Elton John
