Vladimir Putin defends Russia's stance on homosexuals, hails Elton John, after calls to boycott Sochi Winter Olympics

Updated

Russian president Vladimir Putin has defended his country's position on homosexuality, saying Russians love British musician Elton John "despite his orientation".

His comments follow calls for a boycott of next month's Winter Olympics in Sochi over legislation which makes it a crime to provide information about homosexuality to anyone under the age of 18.

Mr Putin says he is not prejudiced against gay people and he does not care about a person's sexual orientation.

"I myself know some people who are gay. We are on friendly terms," he told the BBC.

But Mr Putin says there is no danger for people of what he referred to as "non-traditional sexual orientation" in coming to the Winter Olympics as participants or spectators.

By way of example, he praised Sir Elton, who is openly gay, as "an outstanding person [and] outstanding musician".

"Millions of our people sincerely love him despite his orientation," Mr Putin said.

Sir Elton himself has spoken out against Russia's crackdown on so-called "gay propaganda".

"I am deeply saddened and shocked over the current legislation that is now in place against the [homosexual] community here in Russia," he said at a sold-out concert in Moscow last month.

"In my opinion, it is inhumane and it is isolating. Harmony is what makes a happy family and a strong society."

The 66-year-old Briton has a long history of performances in Russia, beginning with a groundbreaking concert in 1979 that made him a household name in the then-Soviet Union.

He ignored calls to cancel his December concerts in the wake of the "gay propaganda" law, saying Russia's gays and lesbians would feel abandoned if big-name performers did not come for visits and offer them support.

Mr Putin says the law "does not offend anyone".

"People with non-traditional sexual orientation cannot feel like they are second-rate because they are in no way discriminated against: not professionally, not career-wise, not when it comes to recognition by society," he said.

Mr Putin has also downplayed planned no-shows at the Olympics by Western leaders including US president Barack Obama and French president Francois Hollande.

ABC/AFP

Topics: world-politics, sexuality, bands-and-artists, music, russian-federation

First posted