Elton John cover controversy: Is a gay dad 'sexually provocative'?

Some parents might have trouble with their children's questions about the birds and the birds.

And who is Jesus' daddy? A virgin and the holy spirit (a bird, no less). God the father? An archangel? Don't want to go there! Jesus, Mary and poor Joseph. Now THERE is a traditional family.

The great change in attitude toward gays over just a few years is mostly due to people actually being exposed to gays, and understanding that they are normal people. When they interact with them, particularly as members of their family or friends, they understand that they do not have two heads - or one that spins around,and are no threat to heterosexual marriage. Furthermore, their children are as normal as any others - there are no studies that indicate otherwise. Yes - it is helpful for there to be two parents in the home, but that is a matter of income and stability, and can be provided by gay parents as well as heterosexual ones. As for the matter of role models, there are many ways to find role models - single parents have to deal with that all the time, and having models of both sexes is no guarantee that they will be good models. Regarding the shielding of the magazine - I don't see anything hanging out, other than two guys with a baby - so what's the problem? Should we be shielding people from the magazines that show two hunters on the cover who happen to both be men, too?

I would much rather see a magazine cover of the Elton John, David Furniish, and their son than another cover of Lindsay Lohan in yet another drunken escapade.

Let's just leave aside for the moment the implications of rich men using poor women as rent-a-wombs. Let's leave aside the Orwellian abuse of language of "baby has two daddies."

Here's the question no one asks: What about the child? Does the narcissistic desire of two sextagenarian gay men to have "their" child trump a child's right to know and be raised by his two biological parents? A right that even the UN Commission on the Rights of the Child has recognized? Apparently, yes it does!

The kid will be fine, at least in terms of the stuff that money can buy, which is, as we all know, the only stuff that matters. So let's all focus on the important thing here: What's best for the adults.

1. The store can do as it sees fit according to its own policies. So be it!

2. I would worry about why 2 men need to have a baby.

3. Elton John insults Americans left and right,("I've been treated like a second rate citizen in the US!") and the Americans don't see it and they are blinded by John's music suave act.

He's not been treated like a second rate citizen, because he's NEVER been a citizen in the US. Have to be a citizen in the US to be treated anything like a second rate citizen. He's a VISITOR on an VISA! He's been treated like royalty with kid gloves because he's loaded with lots and lots of money.

He's a British Subject, and has sworn fealty (oath of loyalty) to the Queen, who is also DEFENDER OF THE FAITH, CROWN, and COUNTRY. He's even insulted her time and time again. She could strip him of his knighthood (I recommend it).

He's never been treated like a second rate citizen in the US, not when there have actually been REAL people treated less than human in America - the Native Americans, Japanese, Chinese, Koreans, Blacks, Mexicans - and women - who were all denied rights until the REAL Women of the US stood up and demanded rights and the vote.

Elton John is a flippant BRITISH queen, who has made billions off blinded batty American customers. He insults them, and they give him money.

I want my money back.

What gives all these religious leaders the right to judge anyone and how they conduct their lives? Do they really think some ancient doctrines, that have been altered time after time by the church to suit their needs, should be the standard for everyone in the world to live their lives by forever and always. The church needs to come out of the Dark Ages and encourage all people to live their lives the best they can and be glad that gay people can love their families just as much as any bishop or politician. Elton Johns little baby will have a happy a life as long as he doesn't listen to narrow minded people who hate to much.

Anyone who is against two people giving love, time, security and kindness to a child is an idiot.

I say Mazel Tov to the proud parents and thanks Elton for giving me the music of my life.

PS I'm a heterosexual single dad.

JAKARTA: Let's just leave aside for the moment the implications of rich men using poor women as rent-a-wombs.
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Surrogates are well-paid for their services. No one impregnated this woman at gunpoint. She had the option of saying, "Nope. Don't wanna do it. Not gonna do it."

JAKARTA: Let's leave aside the Orwellian abuse of language of "baby has two daddies."
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What else would you call two male parents?

JAKARTA: Does the narcissistic desire of two sextagenarian gay men to have "their" child trump a child's right to know and be raised by his two biological parents?
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Does the narcissitic desire of two infertile straight thirty-somethings who use a spermn or egg donor to have "their" child trump a child's right to know and be raised by his two biological parents?


What's best for this child (or any other child) is to be raised by people who make him feel loved, wanted, and secure. Everything else, including number and gender of parents, is negotiable.

More intolerance from the army of Jesus.

We know a couple of Lesbian ladies, one of whom had a daughter by AI. Since the mother had never "known" a man, does this make it an immaculate conception?
Epilogue: The daughter is grown up, married (to a man) and has childen, so it doesn't look like mommie's lifestyle did any damage.
On the other hand, I know plenty of "normal" couples who make perfectly rotten parents.

It's easy to become intolerant of homophobes. After all, this is one the less revolting things they've done lately, but it's still pretty ugly.

We should try to remember that homophobes are very sick people. It's like an addiction. They need to have somebody to hate so that they can avoid contemplating their own inner rottenness.

"1. The store can do as it sees fit according to its own policies. So be it!"

Absloutly RIGHT...they don't want none'them black or jews in the store either...

The real obscenities are the likes of Forbes, Wall Street Journal, Time, and Newsweek with their covers of criminal Banksters, Wall Street gamblers, political opportunists, Congress criminals, and Fox liars! If we removed these miscreants and their fellow travelers ranting from the Christian pulpits, America would be a far better place!

I'd rather see a cover featuring a couple like Elton John and his partner showing off their new son than a cover featuring the latest spoiled-brat celebrity screwing up his or her life (e.g. Lindsay Lohan) or magazines like Maxim showing tarted-up nymphets wearing next to nothing or magazines that show pencil-thin models and article titles about "How to Catch a Man" or "Improving Your Sex Life" or something like that. Yecch!

There is nothing wrong with a loving couple who finally had a child that they had wanted for years being shown on the cover of a magazine, no matter what their genders! Their son was very much wanted from the get-go (unlike many hetero offspring of parents who aren't together and were the result of a contraception failure or failure to use contraception in the first place-look at the moms on Maury who don't even know who their baby's daddy is!), and will be taught well that it's not just gender that makes a family-it's love and the effort taken to raise their children well!

The store can do as it sees fit according to its own policies. So be it!
2. I would worry about why 2 men need to have a baby.
Posted by: LyndaLBD | January 27, 2011 2:19 PM
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If the store can do what is sees fit, then so can Elton John and his partner.

As to the comment that there are no studies showing having same-sex parents is harmful to children, there are no studies showing that it is not. It is not being hateful to worry about the effects of a situation completely outside of all human experience.

What a shame, indeed what a tragedy, that this child will never know...will never know....will never know.....a mother's love.

the store responded to complaints by some its customers. What on earth does this have to do with either faith or religion?

Never heard of the store. I now see why, though.

As for the church, it needs to mind it's own business. Whatever that is.

My comment was at first posted and then when I came back later it had been deleted, so I am going to post it again. It is as follows: What a shame, indeed what a tragedy, that this child will never know.....will never know .....will never know.....a mother's love.

POSTED BY: POTABOC
As to the comment that there are no studies showing having same-sex parents is harmful to children, there are no studies showing that it is not. It is not being hateful to worry about the effects of a situation completely outside of all human experience.
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I guess in your so-called infinite wisdom you've read all those studies and still are able to come up with the wrong conclusion. What these studies have shown (and yes I've read most of them btw), is that there are no statistically significant differences in terms of mental or physical well being for children raised by same sex or heterosexual couples. In other words these kids are as well adjusted or not despite their parents being gay or straight.

CHATARD,

Babies whose mothers die in childbirth never know their mother's love.
But if they're fortunate, they are raised by others who love them, and they turn out just fine.

Chatard,

So would you be fine with a female gay couple having a child?

POSTED BY: POTABOC
It is not being hateful to worry about the effects of a situation completely outside of all human experience.
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Just because you don't have any experiences with it doesn't mean you should speak for all of humanity. Ignorance is no excuse.

Your right Stevie7

Just because you've never killed someone or married your mother or sister or stolen doesn't mean you have the right to judge someone who has.Just because you haven't done it doesn't doesn't mean you can speak for all humanity who has.Oh wait...maybe there are absolutes of right and wrong..Good and evil.Or maybe one could just make it up as you go along...I don't think so.

Your right Stevie7

Just because you've never killed someone or married your mother or sister or stolen doesn't mean you have the right to judge someone who has.Just because you haven't done it doesn't doesn't mean you can speak for all humanity who has.Oh wait...maybe there are absolutes of right and wrong..Good and evil.Or maybe one could just make it up as you go along...I don't think so.

Just because you've never killed someone or married your mother or sister or stolen doesn't mean you have the right to judge someone who has.Just because you haven't done it doesn't doesn't mean you can speak for all humanity who has.Oh wait...maybe there are absolutes of right and wrong..Good and evil.Or maybe one could just make it up as you go along...I don't think so.

POSTED BY: HOLIEN1
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I see ... bigotry and ignorance hiding behind religion - typical. What gives you the right to decide was is Right or Wrong or Good or Evil? And equating a child haivng two fathers with murder or incense? Nice. I guess that whole "judge not lest ye be judged" thing is only a suggestion.

My whole point was that the claim 'completely outside of all human experience' was extremely narrow-minded, but that's for twisting that around for your own purpose.

Capn0ok1

You asked, "We know a couple of Lesbian ladies, one of whom had a daughter by AI. Since the mother had never "known" a man, does this make it an immaculate conception?"

No, the term "Immaculate conception" does not refer to Jesus's conception but to Mary's conception.

Take care, be ready.

Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum.

If you don't like it, don't buy it and don't sell it.

Stores don't sell Playboy or Penthouse anymore. Walmart won't sell Maxim or other similar publications. But some store manager in a rural Arkansas town becomes the focus of all the attention.

We seem to accept that publications featuring beautiful looking naked women can be shielded from consumers. Maybe we are not supposed to be conditioned into accepting gorgeous, voluptuous, healthy, sexy, and inviting women as normal.

Get a grip!
Parenting is parenting - it is the most rewarding and also the most demanding experience one can encounter...
Whether you're straight or gay should not even be the issue - the question should be - are you prepared to parent a child.
If God loves all "his" children, surely we can love all the parents.

Conservative Christian bigotry is a thousand times more dangerous than two stable loving men having a baby. How any more gay men have to be killed or commit suicide before people learn tolerance? Come out of the middle ages, people.

The people who think two men with a baby makes a sexually provocative photograph state their case for the one man, one woman, one baby traditional family and all the benefits that arrangement supposedly brings to the exclusion of other possible arrangements. Study after study show that kids develop normally in any caring relationship with adults. The real issue is Leviticus and its supposed scowl at homosexual behavior. One man, one woman, and one baby, where the man is an alcoholic who beats his wife and child is Traditional and dysfunctional, but somehow preferable to the gay couple. If I were the child in the relationship, I'd prefer two unintoxicated caring gay fathers over the beatings.

What DRAGONDANCER1814 said (which echoes others, including LEPIDOPTERYX) deserves to be repeated:

"I'd rather see a cover featuring a couple like Elton John and his partner showing off their new son than a cover featuring the latest spoiled-brat celebrity screwing up his or her life (e.g. Lindsay Lohan) or magazines like Maxim showing tarted-up nymphets wearing next to nothing or magazines that show pencil-thin models and article titles about "How to Catch a Man" or "Improving Your Sex Life" or something like that. Yecch!"

I have taught young children for 20 years, and I have plenty to say about hetero couples (and singles) who became parents by accident and some who continued having kids despite their obvious desire to live a life without such responsibilities or their undeniably abhorrent parenting "skills." Some other heterosexual parents began with good intentions but ended up divorced and bitter towards each other and neglectful of their children nevertheless. I have come to know all sorts of families, and though only some of the parents have been same-sex, they stand out as mindful, affectionate, informed mothers and fathers. Gay/lesbian families are not perfect--none are--but they are *intentional* families that are not created just because it's expected of them or because Grandma wants to perpetuate her DNA or the family name.

If a child is being beaten or verbally abused, or her/his parents are shooting up and pimping themselves out, then by all means, step in. Otherwise, look after your own children and move on.

That's why they call it "the Bible Belt"

I see ... bigotry and ignorance hiding behind religion - typical. What gives you the right to decide was is Right or Wrong or Good or Evil? And equating a child haivng two fathers with murder or incense? Nice. I guess that whole "judge not lest ye be judged" thing is only a suggestion.
My whole point was that the claim 'completely outside of all human experience' was extremely narrow-minded, but that's for twisting that around for your own purpose.

POSTED BY stevie7 4:51 pm

Playbook for intolerance.
#1.When your wrong and have no substance to your argument,Start name calling.(Hey it worked when we were 5 years old,why quit now)

#2.Make sure you put make all truth subjetive to change by general consensus.That way one day anything we do can be legal day by reason of agreement of the social majority.

#3.Be hipocrital you have to be sooo mad about intolerance that you no longer tolerate and fester hatrid towards anyone who opposes your behavior

And when you quote Jesus don't use just whatever suites your adgenda but keep things in context.Jesus said JN 7:24 Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”So maybe thats a suggestion also.You have to take everything as a whole.Not just parts that suites you.

You(and people in your realm of belief)have no tolerance and absolutely hate anyone who has opposes your deviant behavior..As a matter of fact.Your a Theofob in your heart and can't wait until the generation that stands in your way dies.Just admitt it.Your soo hateful it's practially coming out of your mouth.

And once more, for any who may have missed it: What a shame, indeed what a tragedy, that this child will never know....will never know.....will never know ....a mother's love.

Says "Jakarta" ("January 27, 2011 2:11 PM"):

"Let's leave aside the [. . .] abuse of language [. . .]. Does the narcissistic desire of two sextagenarian gay men [. . .]."

Sextagenarian? Not even Webster recognises that word. Who's abusing language?

congrats to the new family. I hope parenthood makes the two gentlemen as happy as it has made my wife and me.

There are thousands of horror stories about child abuse by the heterosexual parents through physical, mental and sexual deviance. We read about them everyday throughout the world and in America. To date, I have never been aware of any of these stories that specifically relate to homosexual parents.
Religion is going into the crapper because of education and through that we have all come to learn of and see how the religious organizations of the world manipulate people to live in fear if not for them trying to "save" us from hell. I cannot imagine a more hellish place in our future, than what millions have faced here on earth. Religion is just another money making corporation where its leaders live in luxury while pimping their wealth from their poor believers in God's name. Foul leaders always use fear of the unknown to bind their uneducated followers to them. Once their lies are found out, revolution follows and that is what is going on now within the religious world. We see the rot at the core of these "christian" leaders. Just look how they live, mansions, private jets, luxury cars, wealth beyong belief, that they then pass down to their own children. Keeping the money in the family so to speak. I wonder if Jesus approves of their lifestyles made from His name? Sir Elton John and his partner have every right to be parents and the means to do so. Their child will grow up better than the bigots who oppose them. fritz

Well those of faith might have a problem with this topic after hearing of decades of child molestation covered up and the Priest who were found to be gay or having sex with female members of the church. We see those who attack others are covering their own sin. When Senator Ensign invited his mistress and her family to his home with his wife and kids to explain his affair. Later both couples attended the same church while the Senator continued his affair. How sick is that, as Senator Ensign calls himself a man of God.

What a shame, indeed what a tragedy, that this child will never know...will never know....will never know.....a mother's love.

Posted by: chatard
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You are right. If a birth parent dies, we need to reassign the children to a traditional man-woman household. I am sure that meshes with the conservative agenda.