Elton John slams 'boorishly bigoted' mayor of Venice over same-sex relationship books ban
Elton John has attacked the new mayor of Venice on social media after he banned books about homosexuality from the city’s schools.
The multi-award winning singer told his fans that “beautiful Venice is indeed sinking, but not as fast as the boorishly bigoted Brugnaro.”
Elton John, who has two children with his partner David Furnish, used his Instagram page to share his alarm and frustration at Mayor Luigi Brugnaro’s “divisive” move.
The leader of the Italian city reportedly banned a total of 49 books featuring same-sex couples from schools, fulfilling one of his campaign promises.
Books banned include a French book titled Jean Has Two Mums, a story of a wolf family where the cub has two mothers.
Sharing a picture of the front cover of The Family Book, by Todd Parr, Sir Elton said: “Here is one of the Furnish-John family’s favourite storybooks. It champions an all-inclusive world where families come in all shapes, sizes and colours. And most importantly, that families are about love. Our boys adore it.
“And in the opposing corner we have Luigi Brugnaro, the extremely silly looking mayor of Venice. He’s stupidly chosen to politicise children’s books by banning titles that touch on same sex families living happily ever after.
“So instead of encouraging a world based on inclusiveness, tolerance and love, he’s championing a future society that’s divisive and fosters ignorance.
“Beautiful Venice is indeed sinking, but not as fast as the boorishly bigoted Brugnaro.”
Elton John's latest protest comes after he called for a boycott of fashion brand Dolce and Gabbana after the designers labelled children born through IVF ``synthetic''.
The songwriter angrily rebuked the Italian business partners Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, who are both gay, for criticising same-sex families and the use of fertility treatment in March.
In a post to his Instagram at the time, Sir Elton said: “How dare you refer to my beautiful children as ’synthetic’.
“And shame on you for wagging your judgemental little fingers at IVF – a miracle that has allowed legions of loving people, both straight and gay, to fulfil their dream of having children.
“Your archaic thinking is out of step with the times, just like your fashions.”
