Elton John Attacks ‘Bigoted’ Mayor
August 20, 2015
Well, Elton John is making headlines again. This time it is in relation to him attacking the Venice Mayor over his decision to remove 49 books which taught children about gay couples and gender issues.
He described Luigi Brugano as “boorishly bigoted”. John, as we know has two adopted children with his own husband.
Banned Books
Though many of the books were returned to school libraries, some have not been, including Francesca Pardi’s Piccolo Uovo (Little Egg), about an egg that discovers new types of families.
Ophelie Texier’s French book Jean a Deux Mamans (Jean Has Two Mummies) is also still banned.
John’s Instagram post said Mr Brugnaro was “extremely silly-looking”.
“Instead of encouraging a world based on inclusiveness, tolerance and love, he’s championing a future society that’s divisive and fosters ignorance,” he wrote.
“Beautiful Venice is indeed sinking, but not as fast as the boorishly bigoted Brugnaro.”
Well it appears that Mr Brugnaro isn’t taking this lying down. In a series of tweets he told John, who has a house in Venice, he “represented the arrogance of someone who is rich and can do whatever they want”, and told him to contribute more to the city.
He also claimed that he was neither left or right, and that he has “no problem with homosexuals”. He also said he was a “free man” who was not scared of insults
It seems that Mr Brugnaro actually made it an election pledge to get rid of these gay friendly books. The fact he won seems to say a lot.
“I have to think about the majority of families where there is a mother and a father,” Mr Brugnaro said.
Attracting Controversy
It is not the first time John has been involved in controversy. In March he called for a boycott of Dolce and Gabbana after the gay designers made what he described as “archaic” comments on IVF, calling babies who were born that way “synthetic”. They also said that they opposed adoption by same sex parents.
I have to say, even though I do agree with what he is saying, I’m not sure where I stand on his tactics. Calling for boycotts and engaging in personal insults I always find damages your cause. What we need is reasoned debate. I’m not sure Elton John needs to act in such an offensive manner. When you start being a jerk, people have a tendency to think you are just arrogant, and your own argument gets drowned out. The last think the LGBT community needs is for some pop star who hasn’t done anything for 20 years coming out of the woodwork and being accused of being on a publicity grab, when in fact, what he is fighting for is right.
The general public is on the side of fairness and equality. We are winning. We don’t need to go so militant. If we do, we risk alienating a section of the public that we need for further changes in law and tolerance levels to occur.
Since then, he has specialised in articles on the battle for equal rights for sex workers, sexual health, as well as bringing the readers fun news from around the world. He also has a major interest in LGBT rights, and is an active campaigner in this field.
When he isn't fighting the good fight, he enjoys spending time with his girlfriend, and young daughter. He also enjoys reading and taking long walks.
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