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With Elton John considering adoption is the media changing how they cover gay celebrities?
Could Elton John and his partner David Furnish be looking at adopting a child? That's the question asked in articles accompanying adorable pictures of the singer showering a 14-month-old Ukrainian toddler with hugs and kisses like a doting uncle. Sir Elton met the child, Lev, at an orphanage where he performed for his AIDS Foundation. The singer said that Lev had stolen his and his partner's heart, even though he had previously dismissed the idea of adding to his family through adoption. The couple faces a number of hurdles, including age (John is 62 while, at 46, Furnish falls within guidelines that adoptive parents be no more than 45 years older than the child), no adoption treaty between the UK and the Ukraine as well as the illegality of gay adoption in the Ukraine. Lev with Sir Elton and David Furnish Interestingly, initial reports overlooked the issues John and Furnish face as a same-sex couple. Instead, most stories compared Sir Elton to celebrities like Madonna and Angelina Jolie who have adopted children from other countries. Similarly, the initial criticism has seen groups say that John and Furnish should consider adopting closer to home. Is this a refreshingly post-gay approach to the story or an example of the media overlooking the kinds of discrimination gay people face? Either way, it's encouraging to see that the media's first instinct was to try to make readers go "Aw" with stories of possible fatherhood. Submitted by on Mon, 2009-09-14 09:21. |
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Unfortunately, they won't get the chance
The Ukraine government won't let Elton adopt him because he's too old and not married. His partner can't adopt the baby either because he too is unmarried. In fact, the government outrightly bans same sex couples from adopting as well. Story can be seen here, in its entirety:
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20304235,00.html?xid=rss-topheadlines
Kitty
http://www.saveiantojones.com/
Not sure how I feel about it anyway
I'm sort of in the same place as I am as regards those women who've gone had gotten IVF treatment in their 60's. It's possible to sympathize with the desire to become a parent even late in life, but I'm not sure that it's really good for the child.
The coverage that I've seen those has been surprisingly un-sensational, which is refreshing. Elton is just another celebrity jumping on the baby bandwagon in most of what I've read.
Hello from the UK...
...I love saying that. :)
I think it's great that he wants to adopt, but I guess it is a bit late. On a practical side, I hope he does adopt, otherwise who will get all his money!
Elton, if you're reading this, please, please adopt me! I'm twenty one, I go with everything, and in much need of love and attention.
But seriously, he is healthy, wealthy and wise, he should get a baby, I'm sure he would look after it and love it just a well as a younger couple.
One last thing, I'm not seeing it as much of a gay issue from our side of the pond, It's more a celeb thing with "OMG Elton John! ...A Ukrainian!" All over it.
Play nice,
Sean
Everything Elton John does gets covered
That's been the case for eons.
You'd have to look elsewhere for a better model of a gay celebrity. NPH is the subject of quite good cover story in this week's "New York Magazine." Ellen is scarcely wanting for coverage of whatever she and Portia are up to. And I've no doubt Cheyenne Jackson is going to be profiled majorly when the revival of Finian's Rainbow opens.
This story worried me
It made me think of those people who suddenly see a gorgeous puppy in a pet shop, and spontaneously want to take it home with them.