The Egypt Music Union has banned Elton John from performing there because of John’s recent ‘Jesus is Gay’ comments in Parade Magazine. Its not so much the Jesus being gay comments that resulted in the ban, but subsequent ‘insults’ to the Middle East that brought about the Elton John Egypt ban. Read about it below and see photos and a video commentary.
Elton John made some pretty controversial remarks in a recent interview that was published in Parade Magazine. The thing that got most people all up in arms was that he said Jesus was an intelligent gay man. His evidence that Jesus was gay was the fact that Jesus was sensitive and caring. This seems to exclude all heterosexual men from being sensitive and caring.
Frankly, I wasn’t so up-in-arms about John’s statements. For one thing, he’s an entertainer. He’s a very good entertainer. He’s probably one of the most talented singers and songwriters of our time. He is not a philosopher, theologian or expert on much of anything other than music (other than being gay maybe). Another thing is it seems to be a human trait to attempt to paint Jesus in our own likenesses. He’s gay so he wants to see Jesus as gay.
The thing is that he went on to talk about the Middle East in a way that the Egyptian Music Union didn’t like. Just as it is with most things, you can criticize Christianity till the cows come home, but don’t criticize Islam, Muhammad, Arabs or anything having to do with the Middle East (other than Israel, of course). That’s the part that has gotten him into trouble with Egypt and lost him an upcoming concert he was supposed to perform in the Middle East. There are calls for him to be banned in other islamist countries as well.
Elton John said in the Parade Magazine interview, ‘Try being a gay woman in the Middle East – you’re as good as dead.’ Ouch. Of course, islamic extremists do have a nasty little habit of stoning, hanging and burying alive women who show too much ankle, get raped or, heaven forbid, are gay. But facts aside, that statement sorely insulted the Middle East and authorities there are not taking it sitting down.
Christians may get upset at the statement that Jesus was an ‘intelligent gay man’. Jews will get indignant and upset when confronted with Antisemitism. But you are taking your life in your hands when criticizing islam. Just ask Daniel Pearl, Theo Van Gogh, the creators of South Park, the Dutch cartoonists, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Lars Vilks … well, the list goes on and on and on and on.
Elton John was scheduled to perform in Egypt on May 18, 2010, but now will have to fill that time with something else as the Elton John Egypt ban will prevent him from fulfilling his commitment there.
Below are more photos of Elton John, some with his husband David Furnish.
On Elton John’s Jesus Gay Statement – Video
Photos: Joseph Marzullo/ Jody Cortes/ Michael Wright/ www.wenn.com
