This weekend Elton John weighed in on the controversial comments made by Dolce and Gabbana with respect to same-sex families. The pair reputedly said “We oppose gay adoptions. … The only family is the traditional one. … No chemical offspring and rented uterus: life has a natural flow, there are things that should not be changed. … You are born to a mother and a father — or at least that’s how it should be. … I call children of chemistry synthetic children. Rented uterus, semen chosen from a catalog. … The family is not a fad. In it there is a supernatural sense of belonging.”
John was outraged taking to Instagram to say “How dare you refer to my beautiful children as ‘synthetic’. And shame on you for wagging your judgmental little fingers at IVF – a miracle that has allowed legions of loving people, both straight and gay, to fulfill their dream of having children. Your archaic thinking is out of step with the times, just like your fashions. I shall never wear Dolce and Gabbana ever again. #BoycottDolceGabbana”
My how John’s thought process has changed. When John was confronted about singing at the wedding of homophobe Rush Limbaugh, John was not so critical. John told the New York Times, “I’ve been sober for 24 years now, and one of the best lessons it taught me is to listen. When it comes to people like Rush Limbaugh, or people who might enrage you sometimes, dialogue is the only way. You have to reach out. Whether you make an impact in one year or 30 years, it doesn’t matter. You have to put your foot in the water and start the process. Better to build a bridge than a wall.” I thought John was wrong to sing for the homophobe. Now it seems that Elton may have seen the error of his ways. However, John’s outrage is the height of hypocrisy. He’ll talk to Limbaugh but not Dolce and Gabbana?
When others boycotted Russia due to their anti-LGBT propaganda law, John held concerts. Sure he chastised the Russian government from the stage, but in the end John collected a paycheck. Just like when he sang for Limbaugh. I don’t care that John gave the money to charity. Can you imagine John’s reaction if we had launched a boycott against him?
While I will let market forces deal with Dolce and Gabbana, I want to let Elton John know that his actions cannot be uncoupled from the actions of the designers. Celebrities think that can say anything and justify anti-LGBT statements and actions with no consequences. John did so performing in Russia and for Limbaugh. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, one of his favorite fashion accessories, John doesn’t like it so much. Now John knows how many in the LGBT community felt when he took his wrongheaded turns. Elton, you are right to be outraged by Dolce and Gabbana’s statements but if you truly want positive change, you better start with the man in the mirror.
STAMPP CORBIN
PUBLISHER
San Diego LGBT Weekly
LGBTweekly.com
Good comment about Elton’s obvious hypocrisy but it goes further than Russia’s gay propaganda law – Russia also prohibits any country that permits gay marriages and adoptions from receiving any Russian orphans. Since Elton John and partner David Furnish are adoptive parents, this further trashing of human rights by the Russian state should be especially galling.
– “Russia Officially Bans LGBT International Adoption”:
http://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/russia-officially-implements-anti-lgbt-international-adoption-ban
If Rush is a homophobe, why did he hire a known homosexual to play his wedding? I rest my case.
The same reason all those good old boys in the south used to hire black musicians to play at their hotels and clubs….and then make them come and go through the kitchen entrance.