'Hello Yellow Brick Road' — SF Gay Men's Chos pays homage to Elton John and Oz :: Bay Area Reporter

Contents:

• IS ELTON JOHN GAY?
• SIR ELTON JOHN TELLS LGBT AWARDS: ‘I’M GAY AND I’M PROUD’
• ELTON {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}ELTON JOHN IS A BRISH SGER, PIANIST AND POSER. ALONG WH SELLG MORE THAN 300 LN RERDS, HE HAS FOUND SUCCS ON BROADWAY, POSG THE MIC SRE FOR THE TONY AWARD-WNG H 'BILLY ELLT.'{LOR:#323232;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: NOV 5, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} EM{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}(1947-){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO IS ELTON JOHN?ELTON JOHN'S UNIQUE BLEND OF POP AND ROCK STYL TURNED HIM TO ONE OF THE 20TH CENTURY'S BIGGT MIC INS. HE WAS MILLY GIFTED OM A YOUNG AGE, AND RELEASED HIS FIRST SELF-TLED AMERIN ALBUM 1970, MAKG HIM A HUGE TERNATNAL STAR. SOME OF HIS CHART-TOPPG HS CLU "CRODILE ROCK," "PHILALPHIA FREEDOM" AND "CANDLE THE WD." HE ALSO FOUND SUCCS ON BROADWAY, POSG THE SRE FOR BILLY ELLT (2008), WHICH WENT ON TO W 10 TONY AWARDS. HE WAS DUCTED TO THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME 1994 AND KNIGHTED 1998.EARLY LIFE & CAREER ENGLANDSGER, SONGWRER, POSER AND IN ELTON JOHN WAS BORN REGALD KENH DWIGHT ON MARCH 25, 1947, PNER, MIDDLEX, ENGLAND. HE DISVERED HIS PASSN FOR MIC AT AN EARLY AGE AND TGHT HIMSELF HOW TO PLAY THE PIANO WHEN HE WAS ONLY FOUR YEARS OLD. PROVG TO BE A GREAT TALENT, HE WON A SCHOLARSHIP TO A YOUTH PROGRAM AT THE ROYAL AMY OF MIC LONDON. JOHN HAD A DIFFICULT RELATNSHIP WH HIS FATHER, STANLEY DWIGHT, A MEMBER OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE. HIS PARENTS DIVORCED WHEN HE WAS A TEENAGER, AND HE AND HIS FATHER CLASHED OVER HIS FUTURE. JOHN, PTIVATED BY THE SOUNDS OF EARLY ROCK AND ROLL, WANTED TO PURSUE A REER POP MIC. AND MUCH TO HIS FATHER'S DISMAY, JOHN DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL AT 17 TO FOLLOW HIS DREAM. HE STARTED PLAYG WH A GROUP LLED BLUOLOGY, AND HE BBLED TOGETHER HIS STAGE MONIKER OM THE NAM OF TWO MEMBERS OF THE GROUP.IN 1967 JOHN ANSWERED AN AD FOR A SONGWRER FOR LIBERTY RERDS. HE GOT THE JOB AND SOON TEAMED UP WH LYRICIST {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}BERNIE TP. THE DUO SWCHED TO THE DJM LABEL THE FOLLOWG YEAR, WRG SONGS FOR OTHER ARTISTS. JOHN GOT HIS FIRST BREAK AS A SGER WH HIS 1969 ALBUM EMPTY SKY, FEATURG SONGS BY JOHN AND TP. WHILE THAT RERDG FAILED TO TCH ON, HIS 1970 SELF-TLED EFFORT FEATURED JOHN'S FIRST H, "YOUR SONG." MORE HS SOON FOLLOWED, CLUDG NO. 1 SMASH SUCH AS "CRODILE ROCK," "BENNIE AND THE JETS" AND "ISLAND GIRL." JOHN ENJOYED A SERI OF TOP-SELLG ALBUMS DURG THIS TIME, CLUDG GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD (1973) AND ROCK OF THE WTI (1975).{--DATA-EMBED-DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;CLEAR:BOTH;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;WIDTH:100%;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 20REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 30REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 40.625REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 75REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}} A SPAN{RIGHT:1REM;} IMG{WIDTH:TO;HEIGHT:85VH;} A{DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-LE-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:LE-FLEX;POSN:VAR(--POSN, RELATIVE);} IMG:NOT(.EWCW41W1){DISPLAY:BLOCK;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;-WEBK-ALIGN-SELF:FLEX-START;-MS-FLEX-EM-ALIGN:FLEX-START;ALIGN-SELF:FLEX-START;}{WIDTH:100%;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-LE-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:LE-FLEX;-WEBK-FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;-MS-FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 20REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 30REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 40.625REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}{WIDTH:0;M-WIDTH:100%;PADDG-TOP:0.625REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;MARG-BOTTOM:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.4;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} EM{FONT-FAY:CHARTERITALIC,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}ELTON JOHN AND HIS LONG-TERM SONGWRG PARTNER, LYRICIST BERNIE TP, {PADDG-LEFT:0REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;}{LOR:#595959;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}PHOTO: TERRY O'NEILL/GETTY IMAGMEMORABLE SONGS & ENERGETIC LIVE PERFORMANCONE OF THE TOP ACTS OF THE 1970S, JOHN BEME EQUALLY FAMO FOR HIS LIVE SHOWS. HE DRSED FABULO, OVER-THE-TOP STUM AND GLASS FOR HIS ELABORATE NCERTS. IN AN TERVIEW WH W, JOHN EXPLAED THAT "I WASN'T A SEX SYMBOL LIKE BOWIE, MARC BOLAN OR FREDDIE MERCURY, SO I DRSED MORE ON THE HUMORO SI, BEE IF I WAS GOG TO BE STUCK AT THE PIANO FOR TWO HOURS, I WAS GOG TO MAKE PEOPLE LOOK AT ME."'DON'T GO BREAKG MY HEART' IN 1976 JOHN H THE TOP OF THE CHARTS AGA WH "DON'T GO BREAKG MY HEART," HIS DUET WH KIKI DEE. HE SOON CID TO TAKE A BREAK OM MIC, FOCG HIS ENERGI ON HIS SOCCER TEAM THAT HE -OWNED ENGLAND. AROUND THIS TIME, JOHN ALSO PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS BISEXUAL (HE LATER ME OUT AS A GAY MAN). AT THE TIME, JOHN WAS RIDICULED AND TNTED FOR HIS SEXUALY. THE NTROVERSY DIED DOWN, AND HE MA A TRIUMPHANT RETURN TO MIC 1979 WH THE ALBUM A SGLE MAN.'LTLE JEANNIE,' 'EMPTY GARN'WHILE NOT PRODUCG SMASH HS THE 1980S, JOHN STILL DID WELL ON THE CHARTS. SOME OF THE MOST MEMORABLE SONGS OM THIS PERD CLU THE BALLADS "LTLE JEANNIE" AND "EMPTY GARN (HEY, HEY JOHNNY)," THE LATTER WRTEN AS A TRIBUTE TO HIS IEND JOHN LENNON OF THE BEATL, WHO HAD BEEN KILLED 1980.'CAN YOU FEEL THE LOVE TONIGHT' BRANCHG OUT DIFFERENT DIRECTNS, JOHN TEAMED UP WH LYRICIST TIM RICE FOR SEVERAL PROJECTS. THEY WORKED TOGETHER ON THE SOUNDTRACK FOR THE 1994 ANIMATED H THE LN KG, AND ONE OF THE MOVIE'S SONGS, "CAN YOU FEEL THE LOVE TONIGHT," BROUGHT JOHN HIS FIRST AMY AWARD W FOR BT ORIGAL SONG. THE PAIR LATER TED A TONY AWARD FOR BT ORIGAL SRE 2000 FOR THEIR MIL AIDA. JOHN RECEIVED A NUMBER OF HONORS AROUND THIS TIME. IN 1994 HE WAS DUCTED TO THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME. QUEEN ELIZABETH II MA JOHN A COMMANR OF THE ORR OF THE BRISH EMPIRE THE FOLLOWG YEAR (THE QUEEN KNIGHTED HIM SEVERAL YEARS LATER, MAKG HIM OFFICIALLY "SIR ELTON JOHN").'CANDLE THE WD 1997' WHILE HE ENJOYED ALL OF THE REGNN AND PRAISE, HE SOON FOUND HIMSELF ROCKED BY GRIEF. DURG THE SUMMER OF 1997, JOHN LOST TWO GOOD IENDS — FASHN SIGNER GIANNI VERSACE AND PRCS DIANA. HE REWORKED ONE OF HIS CLASSIC SONGS, "CANDLE THE WD," AS A TRIBUTE TO PRCS DIANA, WH THE SONG'S PROCEEDS GOG TO A CHARABLE TST TABLISHED HER HONOR. "CANDLE THE WD 1997" PROVED TO BE A TREMENDO SUCCS, SELLG MORE THAN 30 LN PI THAT YEAR.ELTON JOHN PERFORMG AT AN OPEN-AIR NCERT MAY 1974 WATFORD, ENGLAND.PHOTO: ANWAR HSE/GETTY IMAGLATER ALBUMS, BOOKS, BROADWAY, AND MOVIEJOHN NTUED TO RERD NEW MIC LATER HIS EXTENSIVE REER. IN 2006 HE RELEASED THE CAPTA & THE KID, A SEQUEL TO HIS EARLIER TOBGRAPHIL EFFORT CAPTA FANTASTIC AND THE BROWN DIRT COWBOY (1975). HE ALSO TEAMED UP WH LEON RSELL FOR 2010'S THE UNN, WHICH LED TO A JOT TOUR. JOHN LATER RELEASED THE DIVG BOARD (2013), HIS 30TH STUD ALBUM, PRODUCED BY T BONE BURT. IN FEBARY 2016 JOHN RELEASED HIS 33RD STUD ALBUM, WONRFUL CRAZY NIGHT, TO GENERALLY POSIVE REVIEWS. THE ALBUM FEATURED THE ELTON JOHN BAND, WH WHOM HE LAST LLABORATED A PRR. 'BILLY ELLTT THE MIL' AND 'ROCKETMAN' ALSO MAND AS A SONGWRER, JOHN WAS STMENTAL BRGG BILLY ELLTT THE MIL TO THE STAGE. THE SHOW, ADAPTED OM THE 2000 FILM, OPENED ON BROADWAY 2008, WHERE QUICKLY BEME A CRIL AND MERCIAL SUCCS. JOHN ALSO WORKED ON THE 2011 ANIMATED FILM GNOMEO & JULIET, SERVG AS A PRODUCER AND A POSER. EVEN WH A TONED-DOWN STAGE PERSONA, JOHN REMAED A VERY POPULAR LIVE ACT. IN 2012, HE PERFORMED WH OZZY OSBOURNE, ERIC CLAPTON, STEVIE WONR, AND PL MCCARTNEY, AMONG OTHERS, CELEBRATN OF QUEEN ELIZABETH'S 60 YEARS ON THE THRONE.AROUND THIS TIME, WAS REVEALED THAT JOHN AND HIS HBAND WERE WORKG ON A BPIC ABOUT THE LEGENDARY MICIAN TLED ROCKETMAN. STARRG TARON EGERTON, THE FILM FALLY REACHED THE FISH LE WH S PREMIERE AT THE MAY 2019 CANN FILM FTIVAL, DRAWG ATTENTN FOR S WHIMSIL MIL SCEN AS WELL AS S UNFLCHG PORTRAYAL OF JOHN'S SEXUALY. THE ARTIST FOLLOWED WH THE PUBLITN OF HIS TOBGRAPHY, ME, LATER THAT YEAR.IN JANUARY 2020, JOHN AND TP CLAIMED THE BT ORIGAL SONG GOLN GLOBE FOR ROCKETMAN'S "(I'M GONNA) LOVE ME AGA." AMAZGLY, WAS THEIR FIRST SHARED AWARD AFTER MORE THAN A HALF-CENTURY OF CREATG SOME OF POPULAR MIC'S BIGGT HS TOGETHER. THE DUO THEN PICKED UP THEIR SEND JOT HONOR, ALSO FOR BT ORIGAL SONG, AT THE AMY AWARDS THE FOLLOWG MONTH.FAREWELL TOURON JANUARY 24, 2018, JOHN ANNOUNCED THAT HE WOULD RETIRE OM THE ROAD AFTER HIS PLANNED FAREWELL YELLOW BRICK ROAD TOUR, SET TO KICK OFF THAT SEPTEMBER. "MY PRRI HAVE CHANGED," HE SAID, CG HIS SIRE TO SPEND MORE TIME WH HIS HBAND, DAVID, AND THEIR KIDS. "IN 2015, DAVID AND I SAT DOWN WH A SCHOOL SCHLE ... I DON’T WANT TO MISS TOO MUCH OF THIS."THAT YEAR ALSO BROUGHT AN END TO HIS LAS VEGAS RINCY, "THE MILLN DOLLAR PIANO," WHICH WRAPPED WH A MAY 17 PERFORMANCE AT CAAR'S PALACE.SUBSTANCE ABE ISSU & ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATNIN 1990, AFTER YEARS OF BATTLG SUBSTANCE ABE ISSU, PARTICULARLY E, WHICH MAY HAVE TRIGGERED SEVERE EPILEPTIC SEIZUR, JOHN WENT TO REHABILATN. THE NEWLY SOBER MIL STAR, LIGHTED AT HIS SEND CHANCE AT LIFE, SOON FOUND HIS OWN CHARABLE ANIZATN TO HELP THE FIGHT AGAST AIDS. ESTABLISHED THE UNED STAT 1992, THE ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATN HAS BROUGHT MORE THAN $400 LN TO SUPPORT HIV/AIDS PROGRAMS AROUND THE WORLD.IN ADDN TO HIS OWN FOUNDATN, JOHN SUPPORTS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CHARI AND ARTS ANIZATNS, CLUDG THE GLOBE THEATRE AND THE ROYAL AMY OF MIC.IN MARCH 2020, JOHN HOSTED THE IHEART LIVG ROOM CONCERT FOR AMERI TO RAISE FUNDS FOR RONAVIS RELIEF EFFORTS. ALICIA KEYS, DAVE GROHL AND SAM SMH WERE AMONG THE ARTISTS WHO PERFORMED OM THEIR HOM FOR THE BENEF.ELTON JOHN WH HIS HBAND, DAVID FURNISH, AND SONS ZACHARY FURNISH-JOHN AND ELIJAH FURNISH-JOHNWIREIMAGE HBAND AND SONSJOHN MET HIS LONGTIME PARTNER DAVID FURNISH AT A DNER PARTY 1993. THE PAIR GOT MARRIED A CIVIL CEREMONY ON DECEMBER 21, 2005 — THE SAME DAY THE CIVIL PARTNERSHIP ACT 2004 WENT TO EFFECT. WH THE HELP OF A SURROGATE, THE UPLE WELED THEIR FIRST SON, ZACHARY FURNISH-JOHN, DECEMBER 2010, AND WELED THEIR SEND CHILD, ELIJAH JOSEPH DANIEL FURNISH-JOHN, JANUARY 2013. NE YEARS AFTER THEIR CIVIL CEREMONY, ON DECEMBER 21, 2014, THE UPLE WED AFTER LAWS ALLOWG GAY MARRIAGE TOOK EFFECT THE SAME YEAR BRA. JOHN WAS PREVLY MARRIED TO RENATE BLEL OM 1984 TO {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS
• IS ELTON JOHN GAY? WHEN DID HE FALLY INTIFY AS GAY?
• ELTON JOHN TALKS COMG OUT, THOUGHT EVERYONE KNEW HE WAS GAY
• GAY RIGHTS ARE GOG BACKWARDS THE US, SAYS ELTON JOHN
• 'HELLO YELLOW BRICK ROAD' — SF GAY MEN'S CHOS PAYS HOMAGE TO ELTON JOHN AND OZ
• ELTON JOHN SLAMS VATIN FOR BLSG S ‘ROCKETMAN’ VTMENT BUT NOT GAY MARRIAGE
• SIR ELTON JOHN: J WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED GAY MARRIAGE
• SIR ELTON JOHN CLAIMS J WAS GAY
• ELTON JOHN TO PUT: I WILL SHOW YOU GAY PEOPLE VICTIMISED UNR RSIAN LAW

IS ELTON JOHN GAY?

We take a look at how Regald Dwight beme one of most famo openly gay micians of all time and how he posively impacts the LGBTQ muny to this day. However, isn't jt a time to look back at the rich history of the muny, but 's also an opportuny to raise awarens of issu still affectg s members today- many of whom still face prejudice and discrimatn across the John is a huge advote for LGBTQ+ rights and is undoubtedly one of the most famo openly gay micians of all time... When did Elton John e out as gay?

Elton John officially me out as gay to Rollg Stone magaze 1992, but his romantic relatnships before this weren't so 1969, Elton John was engaged to be married to his first girliend Lda Woodrow, but he end the relatnship two weeks before their weddg date.

In 1970, Elton John began his first gay affair wh the mic manager John Reid. Elton John told Rollg Stone he was "fortable beg gay" 1992.

SIR ELTON JOHN TELLS LGBT AWARDS: ‘I’M GAY AND I’M PROUD’

It was after this marriage that Elton John was to break down even more boundari, tellg Rollg Stone 1992 that he was "que fortable beg gay” the same year, the piano man found the Elton John AIDS Foundatn to help fight disease which had affected so many the muny, cludg his iends Ryan Whe and Queen ontman Freddie Ty Dancer sger has sce raised hundreds of lns for the e, hostg galas and balls as well has his famo annual Amy Award Party sce 1993, while g his public profile to raise awarens of the disease and provi fundg for tn and rearch. I hope n embrace the honty and urage that seeks gay marriage as an exprsn not of sire but of love.

If anythg, fdg love and happs wh David Furnish has ma Elton more vol on LGBT rights than an openly gay artist, and one of the biggt sger-songwrers of our time, Elton John has often talked about how proud he is to be gay and also offered advice to the LGBTQ 2019, when asked an terview wh Variety what he'd say to any LGBTQ kids stgglg right now, he rpond: "Jt be yourself. "I've been very privileged, bee I'm a bs that accepts gay people, although I me out pretty early...

ELTON {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}ELTON JOHN IS A BRISH SGER, PIANIST AND POSER. ALONG WH SELLG MORE THAN 300 LN RERDS, HE HAS FOUND SUCCS ON BROADWAY, POSG THE MIC SRE FOR THE TONY AWARD-WNG H 'BILLY ELLT.'{LOR:#323232;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: NOV 5, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} EM{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}(1947-){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO IS ELTON JOHN?ELTON JOHN'S UNIQUE BLEND OF POP AND ROCK STYL TURNED HIM TO ONE OF THE 20TH CENTURY'S BIGGT MIC INS. HE WAS MILLY GIFTED OM A YOUNG AGE, AND RELEASED HIS FIRST SELF-TLED AMERIN ALBUM 1970, MAKG HIM A HUGE TERNATNAL STAR. SOME OF HIS CHART-TOPPG HS CLU "CRODILE ROCK," "PHILALPHIA FREEDOM" AND "CANDLE THE WD." HE ALSO FOUND SUCCS ON BROADWAY, POSG THE SRE FOR BILLY ELLT (2008), WHICH WENT ON TO W 10 TONY AWARDS. HE WAS DUCTED TO THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME 1994 AND KNIGHTED 1998.EARLY LIFE & CAREER ENGLANDSGER, SONGWRER, POSER AND IN ELTON JOHN WAS BORN REGALD KENH DWIGHT ON MARCH 25, 1947, PNER, MIDDLEX, ENGLAND. HE DISVERED HIS PASSN FOR MIC AT AN EARLY AGE AND TGHT HIMSELF HOW TO PLAY THE PIANO WHEN HE WAS ONLY FOUR YEARS OLD. PROVG TO BE A GREAT TALENT, HE WON A SCHOLARSHIP TO A YOUTH PROGRAM AT THE ROYAL AMY OF MIC LONDON. JOHN HAD A DIFFICULT RELATNSHIP WH HIS FATHER, STANLEY DWIGHT, A MEMBER OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE. HIS PARENTS DIVORCED WHEN HE WAS A TEENAGER, AND HE AND HIS FATHER CLASHED OVER HIS FUTURE. JOHN, PTIVATED BY THE SOUNDS OF EARLY ROCK AND ROLL, WANTED TO PURSUE A REER POP MIC. AND MUCH TO HIS FATHER'S DISMAY, JOHN DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL AT 17 TO FOLLOW HIS DREAM. HE STARTED PLAYG WH A GROUP LLED BLUOLOGY, AND HE BBLED TOGETHER HIS STAGE MONIKER OM THE NAM OF TWO MEMBERS OF THE GROUP.IN 1967 JOHN ANSWERED AN AD FOR A SONGWRER FOR LIBERTY RERDS. HE GOT THE JOB AND SOON TEAMED UP WH LYRICIST {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}BERNIE TP. THE DUO SWCHED TO THE DJM LABEL THE FOLLOWG YEAR, WRG SONGS FOR OTHER ARTISTS. JOHN GOT HIS FIRST BREAK AS A SGER WH HIS 1969 ALBUM EMPTY SKY, FEATURG SONGS BY JOHN AND TP. WHILE THAT RERDG FAILED TO TCH ON, HIS 1970 SELF-TLED EFFORT FEATURED JOHN'S FIRST H, "YOUR SONG." MORE HS SOON FOLLOWED, CLUDG NO. 1 SMASH SUCH AS "CRODILE ROCK," "BENNIE AND THE JETS" AND "ISLAND GIRL." JOHN ENJOYED A SERI OF TOP-SELLG ALBUMS DURG THIS TIME, CLUDG GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD (1973) AND ROCK OF THE WTI (1975).{--DATA-EMBED-DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;CLEAR:BOTH;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;WIDTH:100%;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 20REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 30REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 40.625REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 75REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}} A SPAN{RIGHT:1REM;} IMG{WIDTH:TO;HEIGHT:85VH;} A{DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-LE-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:LE-FLEX;POSN:VAR(--POSN, RELATIVE);} IMG:NOT(.EWCW41W1){DISPLAY:BLOCK;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;-WEBK-ALIGN-SELF:FLEX-START;-MS-FLEX-EM-ALIGN:FLEX-START;ALIGN-SELF:FLEX-START;}{WIDTH:100%;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-LE-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:LE-FLEX;-WEBK-FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;-MS-FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 20REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 30REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 40.625REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}{WIDTH:0;M-WIDTH:100%;PADDG-TOP:0.625REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;MARG-BOTTOM:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.4;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} EM{FONT-FAY:CHARTERITALIC,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}ELTON JOHN AND HIS LONG-TERM SONGWRG PARTNER, LYRICIST BERNIE TP, {PADDG-LEFT:0REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;}{LOR:#595959;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}PHOTO: TERRY O'NEILL/GETTY IMAGMEMORABLE SONGS & ENERGETIC LIVE PERFORMANCONE OF THE TOP ACTS OF THE 1970S, JOHN BEME EQUALLY FAMO FOR HIS LIVE SHOWS. HE DRSED FABULO, OVER-THE-TOP STUM AND GLASS FOR HIS ELABORATE NCERTS. IN AN TERVIEW WH W, JOHN EXPLAED THAT "I WASN'T A SEX SYMBOL LIKE BOWIE, MARC BOLAN OR FREDDIE MERCURY, SO I DRSED MORE ON THE HUMORO SI, BEE IF I WAS GOG TO BE STUCK AT THE PIANO FOR TWO HOURS, I WAS GOG TO MAKE PEOPLE LOOK AT ME."'DON'T GO BREAKG MY HEART' IN 1976 JOHN H THE TOP OF THE CHARTS AGA WH "DON'T GO BREAKG MY HEART," HIS DUET WH KIKI DEE. HE SOON CID TO TAKE A BREAK OM MIC, FOCG HIS ENERGI ON HIS SOCCER TEAM THAT HE -OWNED ENGLAND. AROUND THIS TIME, JOHN ALSO PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS BISEXUAL (HE LATER ME OUT AS A GAY MAN). AT THE TIME, JOHN WAS RIDICULED AND TNTED FOR HIS SEXUALY. THE NTROVERSY DIED DOWN, AND HE MA A TRIUMPHANT RETURN TO MIC 1979 WH THE ALBUM A SGLE MAN.'LTLE JEANNIE,' 'EMPTY GARN'WHILE NOT PRODUCG SMASH HS THE 1980S, JOHN STILL DID WELL ON THE CHARTS. SOME OF THE MOST MEMORABLE SONGS OM THIS PERD CLU THE BALLADS "LTLE JEANNIE" AND "EMPTY GARN (HEY, HEY JOHNNY)," THE LATTER WRTEN AS A TRIBUTE TO HIS IEND JOHN LENNON OF THE BEATL, WHO HAD BEEN KILLED 1980.'CAN YOU FEEL THE LOVE TONIGHT' BRANCHG OUT DIFFERENT DIRECTNS, JOHN TEAMED UP WH LYRICIST TIM RICE FOR SEVERAL PROJECTS. THEY WORKED TOGETHER ON THE SOUNDTRACK FOR THE 1994 ANIMATED H THE LN KG, AND ONE OF THE MOVIE'S SONGS, "CAN YOU FEEL THE LOVE TONIGHT," BROUGHT JOHN HIS FIRST AMY AWARD W FOR BT ORIGAL SONG. THE PAIR LATER TED A TONY AWARD FOR BT ORIGAL SRE 2000 FOR THEIR MIL AIDA. JOHN RECEIVED A NUMBER OF HONORS AROUND THIS TIME. IN 1994 HE WAS DUCTED TO THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME. QUEEN ELIZABETH II MA JOHN A COMMANR OF THE ORR OF THE BRISH EMPIRE THE FOLLOWG YEAR (THE QUEEN KNIGHTED HIM SEVERAL YEARS LATER, MAKG HIM OFFICIALLY "SIR ELTON JOHN").'CANDLE THE WD 1997' WHILE HE ENJOYED ALL OF THE REGNN AND PRAISE, HE SOON FOUND HIMSELF ROCKED BY GRIEF. DURG THE SUMMER OF 1997, JOHN LOST TWO GOOD IENDS — FASHN SIGNER GIANNI VERSACE AND PRCS DIANA. HE REWORKED ONE OF HIS CLASSIC SONGS, "CANDLE THE WD," AS A TRIBUTE TO PRCS DIANA, WH THE SONG'S PROCEEDS GOG TO A CHARABLE TST TABLISHED HER HONOR. "CANDLE THE WD 1997" PROVED TO BE A TREMENDO SUCCS, SELLG MORE THAN 30 LN PI THAT YEAR.ELTON JOHN PERFORMG AT AN OPEN-AIR NCERT MAY 1974 WATFORD, ENGLAND.PHOTO: ANWAR HSE/GETTY IMAGLATER ALBUMS, BOOKS, BROADWAY, AND MOVIEJOHN NTUED TO RERD NEW MIC LATER HIS EXTENSIVE REER. IN 2006 HE RELEASED THE CAPTA & THE KID, A SEQUEL TO HIS EARLIER TOBGRAPHIL EFFORT CAPTA FANTASTIC AND THE BROWN DIRT COWBOY (1975). HE ALSO TEAMED UP WH LEON RSELL FOR 2010'S THE UNN, WHICH LED TO A JOT TOUR. JOHN LATER RELEASED THE DIVG BOARD (2013), HIS 30TH STUD ALBUM, PRODUCED BY T BONE BURT. IN FEBARY 2016 JOHN RELEASED HIS 33RD STUD ALBUM, WONRFUL CRAZY NIGHT, TO GENERALLY POSIVE REVIEWS. THE ALBUM FEATURED THE ELTON JOHN BAND, WH WHOM HE LAST LLABORATED A PRR. 'BILLY ELLTT THE MIL' AND 'ROCKETMAN' ALSO MAND AS A SONGWRER, JOHN WAS STMENTAL BRGG BILLY ELLTT THE MIL TO THE STAGE. THE SHOW, ADAPTED OM THE 2000 FILM, OPENED ON BROADWAY 2008, WHERE QUICKLY BEME A CRIL AND MERCIAL SUCCS. JOHN ALSO WORKED ON THE 2011 ANIMATED FILM GNOMEO & JULIET, SERVG AS A PRODUCER AND A POSER. EVEN WH A TONED-DOWN STAGE PERSONA, JOHN REMAED A VERY POPULAR LIVE ACT. IN 2012, HE PERFORMED WH OZZY OSBOURNE, ERIC CLAPTON, STEVIE WONR, AND PL MCCARTNEY, AMONG OTHERS, CELEBRATN OF QUEEN ELIZABETH'S 60 YEARS ON THE THRONE.AROUND THIS TIME, WAS REVEALED THAT JOHN AND HIS HBAND WERE WORKG ON A BPIC ABOUT THE LEGENDARY MICIAN TLED ROCKETMAN. STARRG TARON EGERTON, THE FILM FALLY REACHED THE FISH LE WH S PREMIERE AT THE MAY 2019 CANN FILM FTIVAL, DRAWG ATTENTN FOR S WHIMSIL MIL SCEN AS WELL AS S UNFLCHG PORTRAYAL OF JOHN'S SEXUALY. THE ARTIST FOLLOWED WH THE PUBLITN OF HIS TOBGRAPHY, ME, LATER THAT YEAR.IN JANUARY 2020, JOHN AND TP CLAIMED THE BT ORIGAL SONG GOLN GLOBE FOR ROCKETMAN'S "(I'M GONNA) LOVE ME AGA." AMAZGLY, WAS THEIR FIRST SHARED AWARD AFTER MORE THAN A HALF-CENTURY OF CREATG SOME OF POPULAR MIC'S BIGGT HS TOGETHER. THE DUO THEN PICKED UP THEIR SEND JOT HONOR, ALSO FOR BT ORIGAL SONG, AT THE AMY AWARDS THE FOLLOWG MONTH.FAREWELL TOURON JANUARY 24, 2018, JOHN ANNOUNCED THAT HE WOULD RETIRE OM THE ROAD AFTER HIS PLANNED FAREWELL YELLOW BRICK ROAD TOUR, SET TO KICK OFF THAT SEPTEMBER. "MY PRRI HAVE CHANGED," HE SAID, CG HIS SIRE TO SPEND MORE TIME WH HIS HBAND, DAVID, AND THEIR KIDS. "IN 2015, DAVID AND I SAT DOWN WH A SCHOOL SCHLE ... I DON’T WANT TO MISS TOO MUCH OF THIS."THAT YEAR ALSO BROUGHT AN END TO HIS LAS VEGAS RINCY, "THE MILLN DOLLAR PIANO," WHICH WRAPPED WH A MAY 17 PERFORMANCE AT CAAR'S PALACE.SUBSTANCE ABE ISSU & ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATNIN 1990, AFTER YEARS OF BATTLG SUBSTANCE ABE ISSU, PARTICULARLY E, WHICH MAY HAVE TRIGGERED SEVERE EPILEPTIC SEIZUR, JOHN WENT TO REHABILATN. THE NEWLY SOBER MIL STAR, LIGHTED AT HIS SEND CHANCE AT LIFE, SOON FOUND HIS OWN CHARABLE ANIZATN TO HELP THE FIGHT AGAST AIDS. ESTABLISHED THE UNED STAT 1992, THE ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATN HAS BROUGHT MORE THAN $400 LN TO SUPPORT HIV/AIDS PROGRAMS AROUND THE WORLD.IN ADDN TO HIS OWN FOUNDATN, JOHN SUPPORTS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CHARI AND ARTS ANIZATNS, CLUDG THE GLOBE THEATRE AND THE ROYAL AMY OF MIC.IN MARCH 2020, JOHN HOSTED THE IHEART LIVG ROOM CONCERT FOR AMERI TO RAISE FUNDS FOR RONAVIS RELIEF EFFORTS. ALICIA KEYS, DAVE GROHL AND SAM SMH WERE AMONG THE ARTISTS WHO PERFORMED OM THEIR HOM FOR THE BENEF.ELTON JOHN WH HIS HBAND, DAVID FURNISH, AND SONS ZACHARY FURNISH-JOHN AND ELIJAH FURNISH-JOHNWIREIMAGE HBAND AND SONSJOHN MET HIS LONGTIME PARTNER DAVID FURNISH AT A DNER PARTY 1993. THE PAIR GOT MARRIED A CIVIL CEREMONY ON DECEMBER 21, 2005 — THE SAME DAY THE CIVIL PARTNERSHIP ACT 2004 WENT TO EFFECT. WH THE HELP OF A SURROGATE, THE UPLE WELED THEIR FIRST SON, ZACHARY FURNISH-JOHN, DECEMBER 2010, AND WELED THEIR SEND CHILD, ELIJAH JOSEPH DANIEL FURNISH-JOHN, JANUARY 2013. NE YEARS AFTER THEIR CIVIL CEREMONY, ON DECEMBER 21, 2014, THE UPLE WED AFTER LAWS ALLOWG GAY MARRIAGE TOOK EFFECT THE SAME YEAR BRA. JOHN WAS PREVLY MARRIED TO RENATE BLEL OM 1984 TO {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS

Don't let anybody torture you for beg gay or for your sexualy.

IS ELTON JOHN GAY? WHEN DID HE FALLY INTIFY AS GAY?

He clared: "It's wonrful to be gay.

I love beg gay. I thk I wouldn’t have had the life I’ve had if I hadn’t been gay.

ELTON JOHN TALKS COMG OUT, THOUGHT EVERYONE KNEW HE WAS GAY

"I was never unfortable beg gay. I didn't know I was gay until I was 23, so I mean I got off to a very slow start [...

Straight people, gay people, transgenr people. Elton John's journey to beg an out gay man may be a long and plex one, but the legendary sger-songwrer has long been an in and a bean of hope for the LGBTQ muny and will be for many years to e. In an exclive terview wh Variety at last month’s Cann Film Ftival, jt hours before the world premiere of his long--the-works bpic “Rocketman, ” John spoke ndidly about the “privilege” of beg a gay entertaer.

I’ve been very privileged bee I’m a bs that kd of accepts gay people. But 1992, at age 45, he was quoted the same magaze sayg he was “que fortable beg gay. Now 72, John tells Variety that he was 23 when he actually realized he was gay.

GAY RIGHTS ARE GOG BACKWARDS THE US, SAYS ELTON JOHN

Acrdg to “Rocketman, ” she told her son he would never be tly loved bee he was gay. “It’s wonrful to be gay. “And I thk I wouldn’t have had the life I’ve had if I hadn’t been gay.

'HELLO YELLOW BRICK ROAD' — SF GAY MEN'S CHOS PAYS HOMAGE TO ELTON JOHN AND OZ

“Don’t let anybody torture you for beg gay or for your sexualy.

“There are so many wonrful diverse people the world — straight people, gay people [and] transgenr people.

ELTON JOHN SLAMS VATIN FOR BLSG S ‘ROCKETMAN’ VTMENT BUT NOT GAY MARRIAGE

People who should know better plac of rponsibily [and] attack gay people, transgenr people … they claim to be close to God, [but] they uldn’t be further away om God if they tried.

SIR ELTON JOHN: J WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED GAY MARRIAGE

Sir Elton Hercul John is a Brish sger, poser, and pianist generally nicknamed the "Rocketman" and he is gay.

ContentsWhen did Elton John e out as gay? In 1992, he me out as gay and claimed he was "que fortable about beg gay" regardg his sexual orientatn. After their divorce, he me out as gay four years later.

SIR ELTON JOHN CLAIMS J WAS GAY

In 1970, Elton John started his first gay affair wh John Reid, the Tamla Motown Label manager for the UK. Gay Awakeng.

“Twelve months after John Baldry [a queer mician who worked wh Elton the ’60s group Bluology] had dnkenly announced that I was gay to everyone wh earshot at the Bag O’ Nails, I cid he was right…. Y, apparently Elton and John Waters’ me/drag mic pneer Dive were pals back the day, and they tried to get to the now-funct New York Cy gay bar Cris Dis together.

Y, a gay bar (wh a NSFW name) said ‘sashay away’ to two inic LGBTQ figur at the same time.

ELTON JOHN TO PUT: I WILL SHOW YOU GAY PEOPLE VICTIMISED UNR RSIAN LAW

Elton, who would later specify that he intifi as gay, also explas labelg himself bisexual at the time. Fightg Tabloid Homophobia.

Tabloid Sun – which has a troublg history of homophobia, havg n a 1989 headle that rrectly promised “Straight Sex Cannot Give You AIDS—Official” – went after Elton 1987, allegg he was part of an y wh male prostut at the home of Rod Stewart’s former manager. Dpe that trma, Elton nclus that episo wh characteristic w: “Gay man sucks penis: It’s not exactly a Pulzer-wng sop.