Sir
Elton John has said he wants to hold talks with Vladimir Putin over
what he called the Russian president's "ridiculous" stance on gay
rights.
The
Rocket Man singer extended the offer of talks after speaking at a conference in neighbouring Ukraine, where he
met with the country's president Petro Poroshenko to lobby him about lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights.
Sir Elton accused Mr Putin of saying
"stupid things" in reference to his warning to gay people travelling
to the Winter Olympics to "leave the children in peace".
Russia also passed a law banning
homosexual "propaganda" among children in June 2013, sparking an
international outcry.
Sir Elton told reporters: "Give me
a break. You are president of Russia, and you go and say stupid things like
that?"
Mr Putin's attitude to gay people was
"isolating and prejudiced" and "ridiculous", he added.
Sir Elton went on: "I would like
to meet (Mr Putin). It's probably pie in the sky ... He may laugh behind my
back when he shuts the door, and call me an absolute idiot, but at least I can
think I have the conscience to say I tried."
The star thanked Mr Poroshenko for his
"support" after meeting with him.
He said on Instagram: "After
speaking at the YES Ukraine 2015 Conference today in Kiev, I met with Ukraine
President Poroshenko about the importance of legislative changes to support
LGBT rights.
"Specifically, I asked him to: 1.
Ban discrimination in the workplace based on sexuality and gender identity. 2.
Provide criminal penalties for hate crimes.
"We need Ukrainian businessmen and
power brokers to create a more inclusive and tolerant society. We need this
everywhere!"
Sir Elton has been outspoken on the
issue of gay rights before, most recently when, earlier this year, he
temporarily boycotted Dolce and Gabbana after the fashion designers called children
conceived by IVF "synthetic".
He has two sons, Zachary, four, and
Elijah, two, with husband David Furnish.
No comments:
Post a Comment