Sir Elton John has promised to raise
the issue of gay rights as her performs two sold-out venues this
weekend in Russia.
John told CNN that he was “going to
say something from the stage that's … going to be meaningful” and
he planned to “meet with the LGBT community.”
A concert in Moscow will take place
Friday. A second performance will be staged the following day in the
Volga city of Kazan.
John is the first major Western artist
widely associated with gay rights to perform in Russia since
President Vladimir Putin signed a law which prohibits the promotion
of “gay propaganda” to minors, effectively outlawing any public
demonstration of support for gay rights. Approval of the law
provoked worldwide condemnation and calls for boycotts of Russian
made imports and international events taking place in Russia,
including the upcoming Winter Olympics in Sochi.
John is currently raising two sons with
his partner, filmmaker David Furnish. The couple has announced plans
to marry in England next year.
(Related: Elton
John to marry David Furnish on “first day” possible in England.)
The promoter behind John's appearances
has dismissed rumors that John might not arrive for the Moscow
concert.
Madonna and Lady Gaga used concerts in
St. Petersburg last year to speak out from the stage against a
similar local ordinance. Russia's anti-gay law was modeled after St.
Petersburg's legislation.