Elton John says Vladimir Putin referred to as him to speak gays in Russia

Elton John at Yalta European Technique (YES) Annual Assembly in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sept. 12, 2015, to debate LGBT rights.(Photograph: Natalia Kravchuk, EPA)

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When Sir Elton calls, few refuse.

Not even Russian President Vladimir Putin, although you’d assume he’d be additional busy recently throwing Russian weight round within the Center East.

However he discovered the time to name Elton John on Monday, based on John’s web page.

“Thank-you to President Vladimir Putin for reaching out and talking by way of phone with me at present. I look to ahead to assembly with you face-to-face to debate LGBT equality in Russia,” John wrote beneath a big photograph of Putin.

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Instagram |

Thank-you to President Vladimir Putin for reaching out and talking by way of phone with me immediately. I look to ahead to assembly with you face-to-face to debate LGBT equality in Russia. #lgbt #lgbtrights #ShareTheLove

This comes two days after John met with Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko to debate LGBT rights in what was the previous Soviet Union.

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After talking on the #YESUkraine2015 Convention at this time in Kyiv, I met with Ukraine President Poroshenko concerning the significance of legislative modifications to help LGBT rights. Particularly, I requested him to: 1. Ban discrimination within the office based mostly on sexuality and gender id. 2. Present felony penalties for hate crimes. I need to thank him and the First Woman for welcoming me and David so warmly, and for his help. #lgbt #lgbtrights #ShareTheLove

“After talking on the #YesUkraine2015 Convention in the present day in Kyiv, I met with Ukraine President Poroshenko concerning the significance of legislative modifications to help LGBT rights,” John wrote.

John did not element the contents of his dialog with Putin, nor disclose whether or not the 2 set a date for an in-person assembly. And he did not say whether or not he was stunned that Putin referred to as him. However he may need been.

John stated publicly over the weekend that he needed to satisfy with the ex-KGB operative-turned-Russian chief to disabuse him of Putin’s “ridiculous” angle towards homosexual individuals, together with a brand new Russian regulation suggesting homosexual individuals prey on youngsters.

He stated he would “love to take a seat down” with Putin and check out to vary his thoughts.

“It is in all probability pie within the sky,” John informed the . “He might giggle behind my again when he shuts the door, and name me an absolute fool, however a minimum of I can assume I’ve the conscience to say I attempted.”

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In the meantime, there are indicators of an ongoing Russian army buildup in Syria suggesting, in accordance with U.S. officers, Moscow intends to construct a army base there. On Tuesday, Putin strongly defended Russian army help to the Syrian authorities as essential to defeat the Islamic State.

In addition to being a globally well-liked rock star, John has made himself a world activist for LGBT rights and for preventing AIDS, which continues to be a serious medical disaster in some elements of the world. He has not hesitated to criticize officers in different nations who say or do issues he thinks are hostile to homosexual individuals.

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His web page paperwork his profession, his husband and youngsters, and, more and more, his political and diplomatic activism.

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In Kyiv, John spoke to tons of of enterprise and political leaders on the high-profile discussion board, in response to the Related Press, stating that research present that rising economies that shield LGBT rights have a better gross home product per capita.

He stated that “being tolerant and inclusive shouldn’t be solely the morally proper factor to do, for the brand new Ukraine, it’s the sensible factor to do.”

A joke Twitter account purporting to be by Putin prompt what may occurred if the 2 truly meet:

Elton John performs in San Francisco, on Aug. 9, 2015. (Photograph: FilmMagic)

Contributing: The Related Press 

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