Elton John interrupts Russia gig to voice concerns over anti-gay law

'Rocket Man' singer says he was 'sad to learn' of the law banning 'propaganda of homosexuality'

Elton John interrupted his gig in Russia on Friday (December 6) to voice his concerns over the country’s “anti-gay law”.

The ‘Rocket Man’ singer said he was “sad to learn” of the law banning “propaganda of homosexuality” and was quoted as saying that it was “inhumane and it is isolating”, reports BBC News.

The show at Moscow’s Crocus City Hall was also dedicated to Vladislav Tornovoi, a 23-year-old man tortured and murdered in the southern city of Volgograd earlier this year for being homosexual. Elton played second gig in Russia in Kazan last night.

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Speaking in an interview with The Guardian in September, the singer claimed that he chose to play the gigs to show support for gay people in Russia affected by the controversial law banning . “I’ve got to go. And I’ve got to think about what I’m going to say very carefully. As a gay man, I can’t leave those people on their own without going over there and supporting them. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’ve got to go.”

Earlier this year Lady Gaga‘s tour promoter was fined by a Russian court for “propaganda of alcohol consumption and homosexuality”.

A St Petersburg court responded to a complaint by local resident Nadezhda Petrova who claimed that during December 2012 show in the city, her 13-year old daughter was exposed to an imitation of sexual intercourse between women and advocacy of alcohol consumption.

The judge ruled that the gig’s promoter Planeta Plus, had violated a clause in Russia’s administrative code on “protection of children from information that could harm their health and/or development”.

A similar law was enacted in St Petersburg earlier this year against Madonna following her show in the city in August 2012. However, an attempt to sue the singer was thrown out of court.

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