Elton John, born as Reginald Kenneth Dwight, was born on March 25th 1947. He learned how to play the piano at a very early age. He left school at the age of seventeen to pursue a career in music. His father, much like Freddie Mercury’s, tried to steer him into a different career path. He believed that his son would not make it in the music industry and that he would be better off with a different career choice. Little did he know, his son would grow up to sell 300 million records, have more than 50 top 40 hits, receive five Grammy and Brit awards, an Academy, Golden Globe, Tony, and Disney Legends Award.
Elton John was engaged to Linda Woodrow in 1967 and immediately regretted the proposal. He realized he was making a huge mistake and attempted suicide. His friends, Bernie Taupin and “Long” John Baldry found Elton lying on the ground in his kitchen with gas pouring out of the oven. A week later, his friends had discussed with him that he should not go through with the engagement, he listened to their advice and called it off.
In 1984, Elton married Renate Blauel, a German recording engineer. Many columnists speculated that his marriage to Blauel was a cover for his homosexuality. Four years later, they divorced and Elton came out as comfortably gay. In 1993 Elton began a relationship with David Furnish who were amongst the first couples in the United Kingdom to form a civil partnership. In 2014, England legalized gay marriage and John married Furnish on their ninth anniversary of their civil partnership.
The sexual ideology of the time period that Elton John has lived in and is still living in is continuing to evolve. According to Emily Sheridan of The Daily Mail, “When Sir Elton John ‘came out’ in 1976, many wondered why he had wait until his late 20s to make such a declaration. But the veteran singer, now 65, admitted he never actively hid his sexuality – insisting no one had ever asked him if he was gay. In a new U.S. TV interview, the father-of-one said he assumed it was ‘common knowledge’ that everyone knew he was homosexual”.
Elton John dressed flamboyantly which was believed as “unnatural” many years ago. He believes that everybody is bisexual to a certain degree and that he doesn’t think it’s just him who believes that. While many people would gawk and even be appalled at hearing this statement, Elton influenced this era’s sexual ideology by stating that bisexual people are not alone. He uses this statement on bisexuality to be more inclusive. Elton John’s sexual ideologies do not differ from that of our current culture. There is a huge backlash at bisexuals by straight and homosexual people because they believe bisexuality is a greedy sexuality because they cannot choose which gender.
According to Joey Guerra of Houston Chronicle, “Being gay, of course, isn’t the defining aspect of John’s persona. He’s much more than that. But it is an intrinsic part of who he is — and it inevitably finds its way into his work (and his costumes). Along the way, he’s directly influenced a legion of artists who also play by their own rules, from Adam Lambert to Lady Gaga to Miley Cyrus.” Not only does Elton John influence people for being gay, he also influences people to be at the best of their capability. Elton has had lasting influence on not only American sexual culture, but worldwide by being unapologetic and for expressing his love and affection for his sexual ideology.
Elton John established the Elton John AIDS foundation in 1992 in the United States and in the United Kingdom by 1993. John has raised over $400 million to support HIV prevention, education programs, direct care and support services to people living with HIV. This foundation works through the United States, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and Africa. By using his voice and running events to help support people with HIV, he has made a huge impact on the world. He was inspired to create this foundation after losing two friends to HIV—a virus that affects bisexual and gay men more than any other demographic.
According to his foundation’s website, “We fund frontline programmes that help to alleviate the pain – whether physical, emotional or financial – of those living with, affected by or at risk of HIV/AIDS, and to continue the fight against this worldwide pandemic so that no one is left behind.” This foundation was created not only on his sexual ideologies, but also on his love for supporting people in need.
